This week, the Liberal Democratic Party formally punished 39 of its members. Those lawmakers were all implicated in a money scandal that has plagued the party since the end of last year. After weeks of deliberation, an ethics committee led by LDP Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi finally rendered its decision.
Given that the party handled the matter internally, there may be many left wondering what happened and what to make of it. What was the actual punishment doled out and why that? How might this affect the political landscape going forward?
There will be much reporting and commentary on the matter, but at its core, there are five fundamental takeaways.