The ruling party faction formerly led by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has submitted a notice to disband itself as a political group. This comes after another faction of the Liberal Democratic Party, headed by LDP General Council Chairman Hiroshi Moriyama, also disbanded. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, a member of the Kishida faction, confirmed that he had been informed by the faction’s secretariat about their intention to dissolve in early September. The decision to disband was made in response to a slush funds scandal involving LDP factions that gained significant attention earlier this year. In June, the Kishida faction closed its office in Tokyo’s Nagatacho political district.
Toshimitsu Motegi, who is the secretary-general of the LDP and leads another faction within the party, announced during a news conference that he is currently working on procedures to dissolve his own faction as well.
These recent developments reflect efforts within the ruling party to address issues related to political funding and promote transparency. The disbandment of these factions may be seen as an attempt by party members to distance themselves from any potential controversies and restore public trust.
It remains unclear how these changes will impact future dynamics within the Liberal Democratic Party and Japanese politics as a whole. However, it is evident that there are ongoing discussions and actions taking place within the party regarding its internal structure and governance.