Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will sooner or later make a statement at the National Assembly regarding the “cherry blossom scandal,” which is a suspicion of calling voters to provide entertainment to government events. Contrary to the denial of “there is no such fact” many times, the prosecution’s investigation reveals that a large part of the suspicion is true, so it is noteworthy whether to release a message of apology.
Liberal Democratic Party decides to call Abe National Assembly to hear explanation
Judgment that the prolonged period will damage the government
Even after the suspicion is revealed, the secretary is held accountable
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The “Cherry Blossoms Viewing Meeting” was held in Shinjuku Gyoen in April of last year. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Mrs. Akie are taking commemorative photos with celebrities. [사진=지지통신]
– According to Kyodo News Agency on the 18th, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party is adjusting its schedule to call former Prime Minister Abe to the National Assembly this year to hear an explanation of the allegations.
The Liberal Democratic Party’s decision to set up former Prime Minister Abe in the National Assembly seems to be due to the fact that prolonging this issue could put a burden on Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s state administration.
A member of the Liberal Democratic Party, who served as a minister, told Kyodo News Agency, “If you don’t call Abe and stop it quickly, the opposition party’s blame will be fierce.” Opposition parties such as the Constitutional Democratic Party have been demanding, “(Former Prime Minister Abe) lied in the National Assembly, so you have to ask for perjury,” and “Please explain yourself in a public place.”
Former Prime Minister Abe held a “cherry blossom viewing meeting”, a spring event in Tokyo’s “Shinjuku Gyoen” every April from 2013 to last year after the second reign. On the eve of the event held at a luxury hotel the day before the event, a large number of people from Yamaguchi Prefecture, Abe’s district, attended.
The money they paid for food was around 5,000 yen per person (about 53,000 won), which was not enough for the hotel’s minimum meal cost. The suspicion that Abe sponsorship’s side preserved this expense without reporting it is a’cherry blossom scandal’.
![In November of last year, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met with reporters at the Prime Minister's residence to explain the'cherry blossom scandal'. [교도=연합뉴스]](https://i0.wp.com/pds.joins.com/news/component/htmlphoto_mmdata/202012/18/73f212ab-4605-495d-b84f-1e4b536f36ad.jpg?w=900&ssl=1)
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In November of last year, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met with reporters at the Prime Minister’s residence to explain the’cherry blossom scandal’. [교도=연합뉴스]
– After suspicions arose in November of last year, the investigation began in May of this year due to an accusation by a civic group. As a result of the prosecution’s investigation, it was revealed that Abe paid more than 9 million yen (95 million won) in a way that preserved about 6,000 yen (about 63,000 won) per person to attendees.
According to Japanese media, the Tokyo District Prosecutor’s Office on the 3rd asked Prime Minister Abe to’listen to the affairs’. ANN, a private broadcaster, reported on the 18th that former Prime Minister Abe had already been investigated by the prosecution at a hotel in downtown Tokyo.
However, former Prime Minister Abe did not mention whether he was investigated by the reporters on the day, but only mentioned that “the National Assembly will also respond faithfully.”
Despite the prosecution’s investigation and attendance at the National Assembly, it seems unlikely that Abe will face legal punishment. The prosecution briefly prosecuted two people, including the first secretary of Gongseol, the representative of the ‘Shinjo Abe’s sponsorship group’ that hosted the dinner event, and the secretary’s office in the sponsor’s association who was in charge of accounting affairs, for violating the Political Fund Regulation Act. Japanese media predicted that the case is expected to close in
Even after the prosecution’s investigation reveals that the allegations are true, Abe is taking responsibility for the secretary, saying, “I just told what was reported.”
Tokyo = Correspondent Lee Young-hee [email protected]
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