Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has approved disciplinary action against 39 MPs in connection with a massive scandal involving political fundraising reporting violations, Report informs, citing TASS.

The relevant decision was taken at the conclusion of the meeting of the commission on party discipline.

Thus, Ryū Shionoya, the former Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology of Japan and the leader of the largest internal party group (faction) in the LDP, was offered to leave the party voluntarily. They decided to apply a similar punishment to Hiroshige Seko, the former leader of the LDP faction in the upper house of parliament. If they refuse, they will be expelled from the party.

Shionoya denies his involvement in the scandal. He sent a statement to the disciplinary commission in which he pointed out the dictatorial methods of the party leadership. He also considered it unfair that there was no punishment against LDP Chairman and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.