The Liberal Democratic Party’s survey of all its Diet members concerning political funds fell far short of addressing core issues behind the massive political funding scandal that has engulfed the ruling party.

Despite the urgent need to restore trust in politics, the survey disclosed nothing but the names of the LDP lawmakers who failed to properly report contributions or other income they received as funds to finance their political activities and the amounts of money not listed in the political fund balance reports.

The survey results did not reveal any clues whatsoever as to how LDP factions systematically built up slush funds.

Further delays in uncovering the full scope of the scandal are inexcusable. It is time to hold sessions of the Diet's Deliberative Council on Political Ethics to hear explanations from the legislators involved.

The LDP released the results on Feb. 13 of the survey, which asked all its Diet members about any omissions in the political fund reports concerning proceeds from fund-raising parties held by factions.

The findings revealed undeclared amounts totaling 579.49 million yen ($3.8 million) involving 85 lawmakers over the five years through 2022.

A week earlier, the LDP presented a list of members who corrected their financial reports to the opposition camp, and this time, the period covered expanded from three to five years. The toothless report offered no new significant details.

The survey only asked the politicians whether there were any omissions in their political funding reports and the undeclared amounts, if any, without inquiring about the circumstances of the omissions or how the unreported money was used.

The survey was expected to be a superficial and compromised inquiry from the start and this has indeed proven to be the case.

In the Feb. 14 Lower House Budget Committee session dedicated to political funding issues, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was pressed for clarity on crucial details by an opposition lawmaker who said, “The critical facts remain unknown.”

Kishida responded by stating that interviews with related people had been conducted and pledged to ensure that “the party will fulfill its responsibility to explain after making efforts to grasp the overall picture.”

Though external lawyers were involved, the truthfulness of the findings from the interviews conducted by "insiders" such as party executives is questionable. However, it is vital for the LDP to compile and release the findings promptly.

The practice of gradually releasing information about the interviews to give the impression of progress would not serve the interest of either the party or the public.

Following the corrections of the factional financial reports, individual members who received part of the money raised through fund-raising parties are still updating their reports.

Given the purpose of the political funding reports to make the flow of political funds transparent for public monitoring, there are many serious flaws and problems with revisions made that cannot be overlooked or dismissed as minor errors.

In response to additional entries of incomes from factions, some lawmakers made corrections to expenditures, but amounts and payees are often listed as "unknown." There are also dubious “expenses” that cannot be trusted unless the receipts and other documents to confirm the purposes of spending are provided.

Ultimately, it is necessary to question the individuals privy to the core facts directly. If the LDP does not conduct an independent and credible probe by a third party, then it is the Diet's responsibility to fulfill this role.

Holding a session of the political ethics panel, where politicians under suspicion are required to fulfill their duty to explain, is the least that must be done.

Kishida did not make a clear commitment at the Budget Committee session, saying the decision to convene the council is up to the Diet, but it is reported that he has agreed to the step.

Kishida should ensure all key faction figures will attend the session, including the "Group of Five" political heavyweights from the faction once headed by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as well as Toshihiro Nikai, a former party secretary-general and the head of the Nikai faction.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Feb. 15