Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) said on Tuesday that the newly elected lower house members would be made to donate the one million yen (8,800 U.S. dollars) monthly transportation.
And also for the communication allowance, which was received for October although lawmakers were elected on the last day of the month.
The new policy came into effect as criticism was rising over the full payment from the national coffers to those who won seats in the House of Representatives in Oct. 31’s general election, after the opposition party took similar action.
Toshimitsu Motegi, Secretary-General of the LDP, said at a news conference that he believed it was “strange” for lawmakers to receive such an amount for just one day of service in the month.
He suggested that the party would discuss where should the money be donated, as it technically cannot be returned to the state coffers.
“We will like to take an appropriate response to avoid a situation that raises questions among the people,” Motegi said.
On Monday, Ichiro Matsui, who is Osaka Mayor, as well as the leader of the Japan Innovation Party.
He criticized the payment and indicated the conservative opposition party would collect the allowance from its new Diet members and donate the money to disaster-hit areas.
Tetsuro Fukuyama, secretary-general of Japan’s main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party, said his party would seek to submit a bill that makes the payment of allowances on a daily rather than monthly basis.
The issue would be discussed in an extraordinary Diet session which might be convened on Dec. 6, he added.
Natsuo Yamaguchi, head of the LDP’s coalition partner Komeito, said he would consider a response to the issue. (Xinhua/NAN).
