首相高市“没有反省”,信任恢复“无从谈起”,日本“金钱政治”困境为何难解?
Huan Qiu Shi Bao·2025-11-20 22:49

Core Points - The article discusses the political turmoil in Japan following Prime Minister Sanna Takashi's controversial appointments of officials involved in "black money" scandals, raising concerns both domestically and internationally [1][4][6] - There is a growing public distrust towards the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) due to ongoing issues related to political funding and corruption, with nearly 40% of respondents in a poll identifying "politics and money" as a key issue in the LDP presidential election [2][4] Group 1: Political Appointments and Controversies - Prime Minister Takashi has appointed several officials linked to "black money" scandals, including Koichi Hagiuda, who was previously penalized for a scandal involving 27.28 million yen [4][5] - Another controversial appointment is Satoshi Sato, who received over 3 million yen in unreported funds during his tenure as a government official, leading to strong opposition from the opposition party [5][6] - Takashi's appointments have been criticized for potentially causing chaos in the National Diet, yet she expressed deep trust in these officials, stating her intention to allow them to utilize their talents [5][6] Group 2: Political Funding Issues - The article highlights the systemic issues of "money politics" in Japan, which are intertwined with long-standing fundraising practices and institutional loopholes [1][11] - The Political Funds Control Law, established in 1948, has undergone multiple revisions but still contains significant loopholes that allow for the exchange of money and political power [9][10] - Despite reforms aimed at increasing transparency and accountability, the effectiveness of these measures remains limited due to the existence of gray areas and a lack of independent oversight [10][11] Group 3: Cultural Context and Public Perception - Japanese political culture emphasizes personal relationships and favors, which complicates the perception of political funding as corruption [12][13] - There is a complex public sentiment towards "money politics," where citizens express disappointment over scandals but also exhibit a degree of tolerance, believing that all politicians engage in similar practices [13][14] - The dissolution of the "Abe faction" and the rise of Takashi as the first female Prime Minister were seen as symbolic changes, yet many analysts argue that these shifts are superficial and do not address the underlying issues of political funding and corruption [14]