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Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Political Fund Control Law amended without banning donations through political action committees

An amended Political Fund Control Law to cap the amount of donations from a political organization at 50 million yen a year became law on October 26 after it was approved by the House of Councilors by the majority of the Liberal Democratic and Komei parties.

The amended law requires both donors and recipients to include the amount of donations in their political fund reports without banning corporations from using their political action committees to donate money to politicians via fund-managing organizations of political parties.

On October 21, at a House of Councilors special committee, Japanese Communist Party representative Daimon Mikishi criticized the bill as a half-hearted measure that leaves room for politicians to receive money through political action committees.

Daimon argued that the need now is for the Political Fund Control Law to prohibit political donations from corporations receiving administrative punishment for bidding or charged with rigging bidding for public works contracts.

Pointing out that in 2004, the National Political Association, the LDP's fund-managing organization, received about 100 million yen in donations from corporations that rigged biddings for bridge construction projects, Daimon said, "What the LDP must do first is to return those donations." -- Akahata, October 22, 2005