The secrecy of the Cabinet's controversial discretionary fund will be maintained, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano said Thursday, contradicting the ruling Democratic Party of Japan's call to disclose the way the shady ¥1.4 billion is used.
The balance and its specific uses "will not be made public" because disclosure could run against the national interests and affect other political parties, Hirano told reporters. The fund, for which ¥1.4 billion was budgeted for 2009, is "used to exchange payments to collect necessary information for the government," he said.
Hirano's statement proves old habits die hard, even in a fresh administration that campaigned on promises to bring change and openness to the government.