幹部に進退要求相次ぐ　自民安倍派、最後の総会―麻生派は「政策集団」確認

　自民党安倍派（清和政策研究会）は１日、最後の総会を党本部で開いた。派の政治活動を同日限りで終えることを申し合わせたが、出席者からは派幹部に対し、政治資金規正法違反事件の責任を取る形で進退を決断するよう求める声が相次いだ。一方、麻生派（志公会）は同日の例会で「政策集団」として存続する方針を確認した。
　安倍派の座長を務めてきた塩谷立・元総務会長は総会の冒頭、派について「１９７９年、福田赳夫元首相の下でスタートし、今年でちょうど４５年になる。歴史ある清和研を閉じなければならない（のは）断腸の思いだ」と語った。
　ただ、出席者からは事件について「幹部の説明に納得していない」と不満が噴出。複数の議員が「幹部は政治責任を取るべきだ」として進退を明らかにするよう要求した。塩谷氏の議員辞職を求める意見も上がった。塩谷氏は「重く受け止め、しかるべき時に判断する」と述べた。（2024/02/01-18:07）

The Liberal Democratic Party's largest faction held its last general meeting at the Japanese ruling party's headquarters on Thursday, as its senior members were urged to decide their own fate following a high-profile political funds scandal.
   At the start of the meeting, former LDP General Council chair Ryu Shionoya said that the faction, formerly led by the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, was founded in 1979 and this year marks its 45th anniversary.
   "It is gut-wrenching that we have to close this historic group," said Shionoya, who has recently served as the faction's chairman.
   But at the meeting, many participants complained that the faction's executives had not adequately explained their involvement in the money scandal. Some urged them to take "political responsibility."
   Shionoya himself was urged to resign as a lawmaker. "I take (the call) seriously and will make a decision at an appropriate time," he said.