Scandal Reminding Cold Pizza

A daughter of former Prime Minister who was dubbed cold pizza precipitated in sudden money scandal in the same way her father and his colleagues had been doubted for many times. Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Yuko Obuchi, is suspected to have been responsible for inappropriate accounting of her political money. What is strange is Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, is sober on protecting her, compared to his defensive attitude for other ministers.

The organization for managing her political money had been spending the money for a fashion boutique in Tokyo, which was run by her brother-in-law, for thirty-eight times between 2009 and 2012. Political Money Regulation Act mandates politicians to report every spending of ten thousand yen or more, and purpose of spending is limited to something necessary for maintaining political organization or for organizational activities of politician. Her spending is doubted whether it was necessary for her political activity.

Her organization also invited her supporters from Gunma Prefecture to Tokyo to watch kabuki show between 2010 and 2011. While participants paid ¥7.42 million for participation fee, it was ¥33.84 million that were registered as the total expenditure. If the organization had compensated for the margin, it may violate Public Officers Election Act. Even if it had not, the failure in reporting would cause violation of Political Money Regulation Act. It is possible that Obuchi is violating a law anyway.

It should be a fatal scandal for a minister in Abe administration. Some senior officials of Liberal Democratic Party realized Obuchi’s money management would be developing to be resignation. Although it is normal for resignation of minister in scandal to be considered by him or herself, Abe is considering literal firing this time. He will consult with Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga, after returning back from international conference in Italy.

Obuchi succeeded political organization from her father. Sharing the same political stream from Kakuei Tanaka, who were trapped in Lockheed Scandal, Obuchi group has traditionally been seen as dirty in money. The reason why the political group Abe affiliates with has been strict on money was to distinguish themselves from Obuchi group. Most people predict Obichi’s resignation to be damage for Abe, Abe himself might be willing to cut Obuchi off. As Obuchi has been future candidate for first woman prime minister, Abe might be pick new dandelion in green loan.