A spate of political funds problems that hit members of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Cabinet before he dissolved the Lower House appears to have been almost sidelined now that Abe's ruling bloc was returned to a two-thirds majority of the Lower House in the snap election that mainly focused on his economic policies.
Cabinet members who resigned over scandals survived the election to keep their Diet seats. Ministers who came under fire for questionable handling of funds have been reinstated to their posts, except former Defense Minister Akinori Eto.
But the Liberal Democratic Party-Komeito alliance's landslide win does not erase the problems. The endorsement by voters in their local constituencies does not relieve lawmakers of their responsibility to account for the political funds irregularities. They still need to set the matters straight.