- On May 12, Nippon Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) announced
its policy to resume political donations by member companies and organizations—a
practice that had been halted a decade ago. According to the announcement,
the new system will: 1) decide which priority measures will be requested
of political parties each year 2) assess ruling and opposition parties
based on measure achievement levels 3) make target amounts based on
each party’s assessments and 4) set goals for each member company’s
donation.
- RENGO’s stance is that political donations by companies and
organizations should be abolished. Financial support of political
parties and politicians should be a personal decision by individuals.
With this view, further preferential tax incentives are essential
to heighten people’s political awareness and pave the way for
private individuals to make political donations.
- The current Japanese economic situation is extremely severe and
employment problems are going from bad to worse. Now is the time for
businesses to find solutions to employment problems by concentrating
on management and doing everything possible for economic recovery.
Furthermore, businesses must never be allowed to let their managers
unilaterally decide to use money—the fruit of the workers’
efforts—for political donations.
However, Nippon Keidanren’s resuming political donations to
enhance their influence in the policymaking process cannot hope to
gain the public’s understanding amidst a never-ending succession
of scandals involving business, politics and money.
Nippon Keidanren should now use good judgement and halt resumption
of the political donation system that they are considering.
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