Political donations plunged to a record-low 24.3 billion yen in 2002, down 24 percent from the previous year in a reflection of the ongoing economic slump, according to a government report released Thursday.
It was the first time the total slipped below 30 billion yen since the current political funds disclosure system was introduced in 1976, according to the Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications Ministry.
The ministry also attributed the decline to a lack of national elections.