塩谷氏が衆院選不出馬　裏金で自民離党

　自民党安倍派の裏金事件を巡り、同党を離党した塩谷立・元総務会長（７４）＝衆院比例代表東海ブロック＝は、次期衆院選に立候補しない意向を固めた。複数の関係者が４日、明らかにした。１０日に地元の浜松市で支援者らに説明した後、正式に表明する見通しだ。
　塩谷氏は衆院当選１０回。官房副長官や文部科学相、党選対委員長なども歴任した。（2024/09/04-20:48）

Ryu Shionoya, former chairman of the General Council of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, plans not to run in the next House of Representatives election, informed sources said Wednesday.
   Shionoya, who left the LDP in April over a money scandal involving LDP factions, will officially announce his decision after explaining it to supporters in his constituency in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan, on Tuesday, according to the sources.
   Shionoya has been elected to the Lower House 10 times. He has served as deputy chief cabinet secretary and education minister.
   He became the chair of the LDP faction formerly led by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in July 2023. As his responsibility as faction leader for the money scandal was questioned, he was recommended to leave the LDP in April this year.
   Shionoya's appeal against the recommendation was rejected, and he left the party later that month. He initially planned to run in the next Lower House election.