Corruption is a worldwide phenomena in the political systems of many countries in the world. In this article we look into two of the most corrupt politicians of recent times- Fumio Kishidia, PM of Japan and Bob Menendez, former US Senator. Both politicians have landed in the list of most corrupt politicians in the world due to their involvement in bribery and misuse of power.
Fumio Kishida’s decision to step down
Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister of Japan has announced that he won’t participate for re-election of the liberal democratic party (LDP) in the next party elections. After winning a general election Kishida was chosen to serve as the party’s president for a three-year term in September 2021. Kishida succeeded Yoshihide Suga in the top position after the latter faced criticism for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Keshida’s decision to not participate in the coming election was the result of Japanese public dissatisfaction and low approval ratings due to a corruption scandal within the LDP. Despite Kishidsa removing members related to the scandal from his Cabinet and party positions, his ratings dropped 20%.
Prior to this, Japanese media, including national broadcaster NHK, reported that Kishida had informed senior administration officials of his intention not to run.
“In this election, it is necessary to show the people that the LDP is changing and the party is a new LDP,” the 67 year old told the reporters.
In his resignation announcement, Kishida indicated that he was looking for someone who could “firmly show the public the changing face of the LDP” and regain the public’s trust. The corruption allegations began when the news of unreported political funds raised through tickets sold for party events and the LDP’s alleged connections with the Unification Church broke out.
Numerous lawmakers in the Liberal Democratic Party are accused of forging required accounting reports in order to keep the proceeds from ticket sales as kickbacks. Amidst claims that LDP leaders were keeping millions of dollars in party funds for themselves, four cabinet ministers—including important allies of the prime minister—as well as a few junior ministers resigned in December. Further information came to light during a public prosecutor’s investigation, and the LDP eventually claimed that 85 of its members had not accurately disclosed their income. This controversy is just the most recent in a string of scandals that have dogged his term. The year prior, he had fired his executive secretary’s son after it came to light that he had abused his position to host a party at the residence of the prime minister.
Senator Menendez faces bribery charges
In the US, Senator Bob Menendez resigns after getting convicted for corruption. The 70 year old Democrat had taken bribes and acted as an agent for the Egyptian government. In connection with a scheme in which he took bribes to support the governments of Qatar and Egypt, including gold bars and a Mercedes-Benz, the former senator was found guilty on 16 counts. Federal prosecutors claim the plot began in February 2018, less than a month after Democrat Menendez was cleared of charges related to an unrelated New Jersey corruption case.
Menendez was convicted of using his influence to suppress criminal cases in New Jersey, including two involving businessman Jose Uribe and one against real estate developer Daibes. Uribe was implicated in an insurance fraud investigation, and Menendez met with officials to scuttle the inquiry. In exchange, Uribe provided a Mercedes-Benz and arranged monthly payments.
Senator Menendez has been accused of using his influence to benefit Egypt’s government and American citizen Hana, who emigrated from Egypt to establish a halal meat certification company in New Jersey. Menendez, a former leader of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was accused of bribing Egypt with weapons and aid. Prosecutors also described Hana’s attempt to enlist Menendez’s help in resolving a U.S.-Egyptian dispute. After an American tourist was injured in a 2015 Egyptian military attack, some Congress members balked at military aid to Egypt. Menendez also urged the State Department to take a more active role in a dispute over Ethiopia’s hydroelectric dam on the Nile River.
Nadine Menendez also faces bribery offenses along with her husband but her trial was delayed due to her breast cancer treatment.
In July 2024, a jury found Menendez guilty of all charges. Bob Menendez officially resigned from the Senate effective August 20 as he was under intense pressure from his fellow Democrats to resign or risk becoming the first politician to be expelled from the Senate since 1862.Menendez’s current six-year term ends on January 3. The sentencing is reported to take place in October of this year, one week prior to the elections. There is a possibility that Menendez will face decades in prison.
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