ID :
19303
Sat, 09/13/2008 - 10:51
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/19303
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Political funds slightly up to 127.8 bil. yen in 2007
TOKYO, Sept. 12 Kyodo - Political funds raised by political parties and groups in 2007 totaled 127.82 billion yen, up 0.8 percent from the previous year, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said Friday.
Spending by political organizations totaled 144.19 billion yen, up 27.7 percent
from 2006, according to the ministry's report.
The amount of state subsidies to political parties that were carried over to
the reporting year fell by 11.87 billion yen, reflecting two major electoral
events -- nationwide local elections in April and a House of Councillors' race
in July.
Of the 2007 spending, office expenses, which are said to be a source of slush
funds, decreased 2.4 percent from the previous year to 9.81 billion yen,
hitting the lowest level since 1993 when comparable data were available,
according to the ministry.
The decline came after the administration under former Prime Minister Shinzo
Abe was hit by scandals over the use of office expenses involving Cabinet
members.
Of all the funds raised by 3,845 political groups, which reported to the
ministry in line with the Political Funds Control Law, income from various
businesses, including fundraising parties and publications, accounted for 45.53
billion yen, down 4.2 percent. Income from fundraising parties came to 11.43
billion yen, down 1.25 billion yen.
State subsidies stood at 31.94 billion yen, up 0.7 percent.
Political donations came to 23.89 billion yen, up 8.5 percent, of which
donations from corporations and other organizations rose 9.1 percent to 3.86
billion yen, while donations from individuals declined 13.8 percent to 4.83
billion yen, the ministry's report showed.
The 2006 revision of the Political Funds Control Law, which relaxed
restrictions on donations by companies with high foreign capital ratio, enabled
eight corporations, including Sony and Nissan Motor, to donate some 98 million
yen in total to a political fund managing organization of the ruling Liberal
Democratic Party in the reporting year, the report said.
The Japanese Communist Party reported the largest amount of income at 26.48
billion yen. The figure fell 6.1 percent from a year ago, reflecting the
decline in the party's business income, most of which come from its organ.
The LDP raised 25.29 billion yen, while its coalition partner New Komeito party
reported 15.1 billion yen.
Among the opposition parties, the Democratic Party of Japan reported 13.15
billion yen, the Social Democratic Party 1.89 billion yen, the People's New
Party 1.15 billion yen and the New Party Japan 190 million yen.
Among the five candidates for the LDP presidential race, Taro Aso reported
136.57 million yen in political funds raised by his fund management body,
followed by Nobuteru Ishihara at 75.44 million yen, Kaoru Yosano at 62.11
million yen and Yuriko Koike at 24.70 million yen.
Another candidate, Shigeru Ishiba, reported only 5.44 million yen.
DPJ leader Ichiro Ozawa reported 103.85 million yen.
Spending by political organizations totaled 144.19 billion yen, up 27.7 percent
from 2006, according to the ministry's report.
The amount of state subsidies to political parties that were carried over to
the reporting year fell by 11.87 billion yen, reflecting two major electoral
events -- nationwide local elections in April and a House of Councillors' race
in July.
Of the 2007 spending, office expenses, which are said to be a source of slush
funds, decreased 2.4 percent from the previous year to 9.81 billion yen,
hitting the lowest level since 1993 when comparable data were available,
according to the ministry.
The decline came after the administration under former Prime Minister Shinzo
Abe was hit by scandals over the use of office expenses involving Cabinet
members.
Of all the funds raised by 3,845 political groups, which reported to the
ministry in line with the Political Funds Control Law, income from various
businesses, including fundraising parties and publications, accounted for 45.53
billion yen, down 4.2 percent. Income from fundraising parties came to 11.43
billion yen, down 1.25 billion yen.
State subsidies stood at 31.94 billion yen, up 0.7 percent.
Political donations came to 23.89 billion yen, up 8.5 percent, of which
donations from corporations and other organizations rose 9.1 percent to 3.86
billion yen, while donations from individuals declined 13.8 percent to 4.83
billion yen, the ministry's report showed.
The 2006 revision of the Political Funds Control Law, which relaxed
restrictions on donations by companies with high foreign capital ratio, enabled
eight corporations, including Sony and Nissan Motor, to donate some 98 million
yen in total to a political fund managing organization of the ruling Liberal
Democratic Party in the reporting year, the report said.
The Japanese Communist Party reported the largest amount of income at 26.48
billion yen. The figure fell 6.1 percent from a year ago, reflecting the
decline in the party's business income, most of which come from its organ.
The LDP raised 25.29 billion yen, while its coalition partner New Komeito party
reported 15.1 billion yen.
Among the opposition parties, the Democratic Party of Japan reported 13.15
billion yen, the Social Democratic Party 1.89 billion yen, the People's New
Party 1.15 billion yen and the New Party Japan 190 million yen.
Among the five candidates for the LDP presidential race, Taro Aso reported
136.57 million yen in political funds raised by his fund management body,
followed by Nobuteru Ishihara at 75.44 million yen, Kaoru Yosano at 62.11
million yen and Yuriko Koike at 24.70 million yen.
Another candidate, Shigeru Ishiba, reported only 5.44 million yen.
DPJ leader Ichiro Ozawa reported 103.85 million yen.
