茂木派「政策集団」で存続　古川氏退会表明、混乱続く―自民党

　自民党茂木派は３０日、所属議員らによる意見交換会を党本部で開き、派を「政策集団」として存続させることを確認した。ただ、会合では古川禎久元法相が退会を表明。他にも船田元・衆院議員ら複数の議員が退会を検討しており、混乱は続く見通しだ。
　同派事務総長の新藤義孝経済再生担当相は会合後、記者団に「派閥を解消してお金と人事からは決別する方向性は共有しながら、みんなでよく相談していこうとなった」と説明した。派閥事務所の存廃など運営方法は引き続き検討する。（2024/01/30-21:42）

Members of the Liberal Democratic Party faction headed by Toshimitsu Motegi, the Japanese ruling party's secretary-general, have agreed to convert their faction into a policy group not involved in financial or personnel affairs.
   Despite the agreement, made at a meeting Tuesday, confusion in the faction is expected to continue as more members are considering leaving the faction.
   At the meeting, former Justice Minister Yoshihisa Furukawa announced his intention to quit the faction. Some other members are planning to follow suit, including Hajime Funada, a member of the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Diet, Japan's parliament.
   "We've decided to continue discussions while sharing the idea of dissolving the faction and breaking away from money and personnel affairs," economic and fiscal policy minister Yoshitaka Shindo, who also serves as the faction's top secretary, told reporters after the meeting.
   The faction will discuss whether to close its office and how to manage the planned policy group.