Japan's Ruling Party Under Investigation Over Fundraising Scandal

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida steps down as faction leader amid sinking popularity and growing scrutiny.

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is under investigation over a fundraising scandal involving more than 100 million yen ($680,000) of unrecorded proceeds.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has ordered a temporary halt to all party events and is said to be addressing the issue with a strong sense of crisis.
The scandal threatens to further damage Kishida's already sinking popularity, with recent polls showing his administration's approval rating at less than 30%.
The investigation focuses on funds raised by the biggest faction in the LDP, once led by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Current Trade Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura and Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno had overseen the faction's bookkeeping in the past five years.
Kishida has decided to step down as chief of his faction in the LDP amid the scandal, leaving the post vacant for the time being.