Hatoyama vows to keep Ozawa as DPJ secretary general despite concern+

TOKYO, April 30 Kyodo -
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama vowed Friday to keep Ichiro Ozawa as secretary
general of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan at least until this summer's
House of Councillors election despite concern expressed by some Cabinet
ministers over retaining him in the post.
Hatoyama admitted, however, that a recent decision by a citizens' panel that
Ozawa merits being indicted over alleged false funds reports by his fund
management body will have an impact on the upcoming election.
''Given that such a decision has been made, we should naturally think that it
will have an impact on the upper house election,'' Hatoyama told reporters.
''But we have no choice but to continue to work hard so that we can turn the
clock forward.''
Asked if he intends to keep Ozawa in the party No. 2 post until the upper house
election, Hatoyama said, ''That's naturally yes,'' adding, ''I want him to keep
on working hard.''
But the DPJ leader said he has yet to convey his intention to Ozawa.
Hatoyama's intention to keep Ozawa in his post appears certain to embolden the
opposition, making it likely that the DPJ-led coalition government will face
harsh grilling in parliament over the politics and money question after the
extended holiday weekend.
Earlier on Thursday in Washington, transport minister Seiji Maehara said that
in his view, keeping Ozawa as DPJ secretary general despite the decision by the
citizens' panel ''will affect'' the upper house election, in which the DPJ
hopes to win a simple majority on its own.
Other Cabinet ministers expressed similar concern in Tokyo on Friday, with
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Naoto Kan saying that a lack of
explanation by the veteran lawmaker would have an impact on the election, now
expected to be held in July.
They also voiced concern over a sharp drop in public support for the Hatoyama
Cabinet in the latest Kyodo News poll, which found that just 20.7 percent of
the respondents expressed support for it.
At a news conference, Maehara said it is necessary to watch carefully how the
prosecution's investigation into the case unfolds. But ''above all, (Ozawa) is
responsible for the fact that three of his secretaries have been arrested''
over the case, he said.
While Hatoyama should decide on what to do, Ozawa should also decide by himself
whether to resign, the former DPJ leader added.
''After all, he has been serving at the forefront (of the political world) for
40 years -- as secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party, the DPJ
leader and now its secretary general,'' he said.
At a news conference in Tokyo, Kan said, ''The fact that we are not in a
situation where the public has been convinced by (Ozawa's explanation) has left
worries about its impact on the upper house (election).''
Saying the public does not seem to have been convinced by Ozawa's explanation
at previous news conferences, Kan, who is also a DPJ member, said Ozawa needs
to explain himself to the public more.
Farm minister Hirotaka Akamatsu said the decision by the citizens' panel ''is,
as it were, a public opinion.''
''It goes to show that the public has turned a harsh eye on Mr. Ozawa's
problem,'' he added.
Citing the Kyodo poll that showed 83.8 percent of the respondents said Ozawa
should step down, government revitalization minister Yukio Edano called on the
party secretary general to account for himself.
''It's Mr. Ozawa's responsibility to improve the rating to less than 50 percent
by convincing the public,'' Edano said during the recording of a BS Asahi
television program on Friday afternoon.
''It's the least he should do as secretary general,'' the DPJ lawmaker added.
On the 12.3-percentage-point drop in the support rate for the Cabinet from the
previous Kyodo poll early this month, Justice Minister Keiko Chiba said at a
news conference, ''This isn't a headwind.''
''On the contrary, we are going through a storm,'' the DPJ lawmaker said.
Meanwhile, Mizuho Fukushima, consumer affairs minister who heads the Social
Democratic Party, and financial services minister Shizuka Kamei, who leads the
People's New Party, both refrained from commenting on their coalition partner's
affairs.
The Cabinet members' remarks came after an independent judicial panel decided
earlier this week that Ozawa should be indicted over his fund management body's
alleged false reporting of political funds in 2004 and 2005. In February,
prosecutors decided not to charge Ozawa, citing a lack of evidence, after
questioning him twice in January.
==Kyodo
2010-04-30 23:14:56


Delete & Prev | Delete & Next