Written questions to the Cabinet with regards to Prime Minister’s “Dining” with media and industry representatives

2015年01月16日

December 27, 2014

Written questions to the Cabinet with regards to Prime Minister’s “Dining” with media and industry representatives

Taro Yamamoto

Recently Japanese newspapers reported that Prime Minister Abe has had dinner with media heads such as presidents and chief editorial writers of numerous news agencies and prominent figures from television stations more than 40 times, since becoming prime minister his second term, significantly more that any prime minister before him.

Mr. Abe has made a priority of cultivating relations with the media, but this kind of intimate relationship between the country top official and media executives affects political neutrality and as a sign of imparity between various political factions would inevitably raise criticism in Western democracies.

It was also reported that Prime Minister Abe was dining with several prominent industry representatives, which raises questions about conflict of interest. This sort of controversial behavior should be honestly and sincerely explained to the citizens, and this will be the aim of my parliamentary questioning.