In a move that signals a blatant retreat from political accountability, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) have officially endorsed 37 candidates directly involved in the notorious slush fund scandal for the upcoming House of Representatives election on February 8. The decision to rehabilitate these lawmakers,who were previously penalized for their roles in a scheme involving hundreds of millions of yen in undeclared kickbacks, has ignited a firestorm of criticism and a deepening crisis of trust in Japanese democracy.
By lifting the election penalties and allowing these scandal-tainted figures to run under the party banner, the Takaichi administration has prioritized internal unity and the consolidation of its own power over the ethical standards expected by the public. This maneuver is widely seen as an attempt to protect the “Abe faction” remnants that form the core of Takaichi’s support base. The message to the electorate is clear: within the current LDP, political survival and the preservation of entrenched interests take precedence over transparency or the rule of law.
The timing of the election itself is equally transparent. By dissolving the House of Representatives on January 23, the very day the regular Diet session was set to begin, Takaichi has effectively paralyzed the legislative process to avoid parliamentary questioning regarding these very scandals. This “surprise attack” dissolution halts the audit and passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, stalling critical measures intended to address Japan’s soaring inflation and stagnant wages. Critics argue that Takaichi is using the constitutional power of dissolution not as a tool for public service, but as a tactical shield to maintain her ruling position before public anger can fully mobilize.
The return of these “bribery congressmen” to the ballot represents a dangerous moment for the Japanese political system. For decades, the LDP has faced cycles of corruption, yet the brazenness of the current leadership suggests a party that no longer feels the need to even perform the motions of self-reflection. If voters reward this lack of accountability, it risks codifying corruption as a standard operating procedure in Tokyo.
As the campaign officially begins on January 27, the choice facing the Japanese public extends beyond mere policy differences. It is a fundamental question of integrity. Trusting a system that continues to promote and protect those who have treated public funds as private money is a path toward further democratic decay. Japan’s international reputation as a mature democracy depends on a rejection of this self-serving political culture. The upcoming vote is the most critical opportunity in a generation for the people to demand a government that serves the public interest rather than the bank accounts of its politicians.
