塩谷氏、再審査請求を検討　離党勧告処分「甚だ心外」―自民

　自民党の塩谷立・元総務会長は５日、派閥裏金事件を受けて党紀委員会が４日に決定した「離党の勧告」処分について、「事実誤認の中で下された。甚だ心外だ」と批判し、再審査請求を検討する考えを示した。国会内で記者会見した。関係者によると、地元の支援者らと相談した上で早ければ週明けに請求する方向。
　離党勧告に従わない場合は「除名」となるが、再審査を請求した場合、結果が出るまで処分の効力は生じない。党規律規約によると、党紀委の処分に不服があれば党総裁に再審査を請求することができ、総務会が「相当の理由」があると認めれば党紀委が再審査する。（2024/04/05-18:09）

Senior Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Ryu Shionoya hinted Friday that he will consider the possibility of asking the Japanese ruling party's ethics panel to re-examine a penalty against him over a high-profile slush funds scandal involving LDP factions.
   On Thursday, the ethics committee decided to urge Shionoya, former chairman of the LDP's General Council, to leave the party, the second-heaviest measure under the LDP's eight-tier penalty system.
   Shionoya voiced frustration at the punishment and showed his possible plan to seek re-examination, at a press conference held on Friday.
   According to the LDP's disciplinary rules, party members dissatisfied with punishments against them decided by the ethics committee are allowed to ask the LDP's president for re-examination. The ethics committee will review the cases if the General Council concludes after discussions that there are sufficient reasons for the members to make such requests.
   Shionoya was a key member of the LDP faction formerly led by the late former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The intraparty group is at the center of the political funds scandal.