新任农林水产大臣武部新表示，周三称，他已归还一家公共工程承包商的政治献金，并在一周杂志报道该捐款后，对政治献金披露报告进行了更正，该捐款是在选举竞选期间作出的。
New farm minister Arata Takebe said Wednesday that he had returned a political donation from a public works contractor and corrected a political funds disclosure report following a weekly magazine report about the donation, which was made during an election campaign period.
“收到捐款时，我不知道该公司已获得公共工程合同，”Takebe对记者说。“我今天检查了此事，归还了钱款，并更正了政治献金披露报告。”
“I didn’t know the company had won a public works contract when the donation was received,” Takebe told reporters. “I checked the matter today, returned the money and corrected the political funds disclosure report.”
他否认了其他报道的问题，包括涉嫌贿选选民的指控，称：“我并不认为我违反了公职人员选举法。”据新闻网站《文春Online》报道，执政党自由民主党在北海道的一个分支机构，其负责人是Takebe，收到了一家从事全国性公共工程的本地承包商的政治献金。该捐款是在2024年众议院选举正式竞选首日作出的。Takebe承认，他未能确认捐款人是否已获得公共工程订单。
He denied other reported issues, including suspicions of voter bribery, saying, “I don’t believe I have violated the public offices election law.”News website Bunshun Online reported that a district branch of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in Hokkaido, that is headed by Takebe received a political donation from a local contractor engaged in national public works. The donation was made on the first day of official campaigning for the 2024 Lower House election. Takebe acknowledged that he had failed to confirm whether the donor had received a public works order.
关于《文春Online》报道称Takebe因支付一名从事类似竞选工作的摄影师而违反公职人员选举法，Takebe否认该摄影师参与竞选活动，称：“我拍摄照片的目的是为了记录自民党的活动。”
Also, regarding Bunshun Online’s report that Takebe violated the public offices election law by paying a photographer who performed duties similar to those of campaign staff, Takebe denied that the photographer had engaged in campaign activities, saying, “I had my photos taken for the purpose of recording the LDP’s activities.”
另外，据新闻网站《Daily Shincho》报道，Takebe的支持团体举办的啤酒派对中包含了一个奖金高于门票价的彩票，这引发了涉嫌贿选选民的怀疑。
Separately, news website Daily Shincho reported that a beer party held by Takebe’s support group included a lottery with prizes worth more than the ticket price, raising suspicions of voter bribery.
武部强调，这次聚会是一场政治筹款活动，所有参与者都清楚其目的。他表示自己是在一家家居建材商店购买的奖品，并称这些奖品“根本不可能带来任何利润”。武部上周刚刚上任，接替了前任加藤和夫。加藤和夫于10月14日辞职，原因是他发表了关于削减那些在选举中未支持他的市政官员的预算的言论，同时还为自己的支持者在竞选期间提供了免费班车服务——这些行为可能违反了《公职选举法》。
Takebe emphasized that the party was a political fundraising event, claiming that attendees were aware of its purpose. He noted that he purchased the prizes at a home improvement store, asserting that they were “not items that would generate a profit.”Takebe took office only last week, succeeding Kazuo Yana, who resigned on Oct. 14 over his remarks on budget cuts for municipalities whose mayors did not support him in a general election and his provision of free shuttle bus services for supporters during an election campaign, possibly in violation of the public offices election law.
“我不应该让公众产生任何疑虑，”武部说道，并补充道：“我对此深表歉意。”
“I should not allow the public to have doubts,” Takebe said, adding, “I am very sorry.”