Kishida To Order Ldp To Take Further Measures Over Ties To Religious Group
Japan's Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has indicated that he will order his party to take further measures to dispel public mistrust of the party over ties between its members and the former Unification Church.
He was speaking to reporters on Wednesday.
His remarks came as ties between the group, now known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, and members of the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party have come under the spotlight.
The organization has allegedly been involved in so-called "spiritual sales" and other dubious marketing practices.
Kishida reiterated that as far as he knows, he has no ties to the religious group.
He also referred to a report by the weekly Shukan Bunshun magazine that says the head of his support group in Kumamoto Prefecture served as chair of an affiliate of the religious organization.
Kishida said he heard that the head, who had already resigned as chair, was not aware of any ties between the two organizations.
Kishida said his party is working on a provision in its governance code stipulating that it will not have relations with any organization deemed socially problematic, and on enhancing its scrutiny of such issues.
He then said he will discuss with LDP Secretary-General Motegi Toshimitsu measures to dispel public mistrust over the issue, including developing an effective checking system.