A bill to revise the Political Funds Control Law pushed by the Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner Komeito is likely to be enacted during the current Diet session. Ostensibly it is aimed at bringing more transparency into mandatory political funds reports, but the bill is weak and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has shown no leadership to improve it.
Since administrative and regulatory reforms minister Genichiro Sata resigned in December over accounting irregularities by one of his political support organizations, money and politics has been a major issue. The most recent and shocking incident was the suicide in late May of agriculture minister Toshikatsu Matsuoka, the target of criticism over a dubious report on utility expenses by his political fund management organization.
Under the bill, political fund management organizations will be required to attach to their reports all receipts for payments of 50,000 yen or more for operating expenses covering office, utility, furnishings and expendable supplies. They will also be prohibited from acquiring land and buildings.