Komeito’s mediation helps Diet pass political funding reforms
December 29 , 2024
Komeito played a major role in securing nonpartisan backing to crack down on a series of political funding loopholes and prerequisites to parliament members, with the revised law endorsed unanimously. It was the first bill of importance enacted since the ruling coalition consisting of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito lost its Diet majority and must now elicit opposition party backing to pass bills as a minority government.Komeito convinced the LDP to formally seek the elimination of the political activity allowance. It also worked closely with opposition parties to establish an independent audit committee under the Diet’s auspices to monitor income statements of political support groups with the authority to audit, remediate and publicly disclose offenders. In the latter case, Komeito cosponsored the bill with the Democratic Party for the People, enlisting the support of other parties as a result. The two parties have agreed to set up a working team to see the bill’s passage in 2025.