政策活動費「廃止の方向」　衆院選、裏金けじめ争点―自民幹事長【２４衆院選】

　自民党の森山裕幹事長は１４日、時事通信などのインタビューに応じ、政党が議員に支出する政策活動費について「廃止の方向は間違いない」と明言した。同党は衆院選公約に「将来的な廃止も念頭」と記している。当面の対応に関しては「国民から理解いただけない使い方は慎んでいかなければいけない」と述べた。
　衆院選の争点については派閥裏金事件のけじめと「日本創生」を挙げた。裏金事件では、関係議員らの非公認を決めたことなどに触れ、「一定のけじめをつけてきた。国民がどう判断するかだ」と指摘。「国民の批判は非常に厳しい。自民党が変わることをどう理解してもらえるかだ」と語った。（2024/10/14-15:13）

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party will move to abolish policy activity allowances that political parties pay their member lawmakers, Secretary-General Hiroshi Moriyama said Monday.
   "There is no doubt about moving toward abolishing the allowances," Moriyama said in an interview with media organizations including Jiji Press.
   The LDP's campaign platform for the Oct. 27 election of the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of parliament, says that the party will "consider abolishing the allowance system in the future."
   As an immediate measure to address criticism of the system for its lack of transparency, Moriyama emphasized the importance of ensuring that such allowances are not used for purposes the general public would not understand.
   Key election issues would be the LDP's response to the slush fund scandal at party factions and the creation of a new Japan through drastic regional revitalization measures, Moriyama said.