Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Friday refrained from making a commitment on the issue of tightening controls on political funds as his Liberal Democratic Party remained wary of banning so-called diverted donations.
He also put off providing a detailed account of his postal privatization plans until the next regular Diet session, due to start in January, although he put top priority on the issue in the policy speech he delivered to the Diet on Tuesday.
"Discussions on political-funds control should be deepened by the governing and other parties concerned. . . . Based on such discussions, the government will go ahead with necessary consideration," Koizumi told a House of Councilors plenary session.