安倍前首相、年内にも国会説明　「桜を見る会」疑惑めぐり―自民調整

　自民党は１７日、安倍晋三前首相の後援会が主催した「桜を見る会」前夜祭をめぐる疑惑に絡み、野党が要求している安倍氏の国会での説明に応じる方向で調整に入った。複数の自民党関係者が明らかにした。東京地検特捜部による捜査に一区切りが付いた段階を想定しており、捜査の進展次第では年内に行われる可能性もある。
　安倍氏に説明責任を果たすよう求める世論は根強く、疑惑解明に前向きな姿勢を見せなければ菅政権への批判も強まりかねないと判断した。来年の衆院選に向け、早期の対応で幕引きを図りたいとの思惑も与党内にあるとみられる。（2020/12/18-00:40）

The Liberal Democratic Party is seen agreeing to summon former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to the Diet, Japan's parliament, for explanation about a scandal linked to state-funded annual cherry blossom parties, sources said Thursday.
   In response to an opposition request, Abe may appear before the Diet for such explanation within this year at the earliest depending on the progress in prosecutors' investigations related to the scandal, the sources at the ruling party said.
   At the center of the scandal are dinner events for Abe supporters held in recent years on the eve of annual cherry blossom-viewing parties hosted by then Prime Minister Abe.
   It is suspected that Abe's side shouldered part of the costs for the events. But no such spending was recorded in political funds reports for Abe.
   The LDP has found it necessary to show a cooperative attitude toward efforts to shed full light on the scandal, given strong calls for Abe's explanation, according to the sources.