Kan trades barbs with Ozawa over money-politics problems+

TOKYO, Sept. 2 Kyodo -
Prime Minister Naoto Kan engaged in heated debate Thursday with his sole
opponent in the upcoming Democratic Party of Japan presidential election,
Ichiro Ozawa, especially over the issue of money politics.
In a panel discussion with the ruling party heavyweight, Kan, currently DPJ
leader, said one of his major goals is ''changing Japan's money-tainted
political culture.''
Kan, who took office only three months ago and faces a tough battle in the
race, urged Ozawa to fulfill his responsibility to give a clearer explanation
of his stance on a political funds scandal in which he has been embroiled.
Kan said Ozawa might have taken political responsibility over the case by
stepping down from the party's No. 2 post of secretary general in June. But he
said now the story is different as Ozawa is trying to take the helm of the
country.
Ozawa argued that he has not done anything wrong, noting that the case was
dropped by prosecutors twice, and adding that he will not ''evade''
responsibility for the scandal if legal authorities decide to prosecute him.
Ozawa made the remark at a time when a judicial panel is reviewing a decision
by prosecutors not to pursue charges against him over alleged false financial
reporting by his fund management body.
If the committee, formed by citizens, finds that the case is ''appropriate for
prosecution,'' Ozawa will face mandatory indictment. But Japanese law
stipulates that a prime minister cannot be prosecuted without his prior
consent.
The committee for the inquest of prosecution is expected to reach a conclusion
on the case involving his former aides, who have already been indicted, after
the leadership election on Sept. 14.
It is almost certain that the winner of the election, for which official
campaigning began Wednesday, will also be prime minister because the DPJ holds
a majority in the powerful lower house in parliament.
Ozawa, known as an adroit backroom dealer, shrugged off speculation that he may
only take the top post of the party.
''Under the parliamentary Cabinet system, it is thought to be in the natural
order of things that leader of the largest ruling party will serve as prime
minister,'' he said at the Japan National Press Club.
In the two-hour discussion, what Ozawa criticized Kan for most was lack of
leadership in implementing many of the pledges the DPJ made before its lower
house election victory a year ago, saying he has not brought about a shift of
control over decision-making to politicians from the country's powerful
bureaucrats.
Ozawa said Kan should especially be blamed for not wresting control from the
bureaucracy in arranging budgetary matters and the current situation is similar
to when the Liberal Democratic Party was in power for many years until last
summer.
Kan responded that Ozawa's claim is off the mark and said he may be ''missing
the forest for the tree.''
On the planned relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma base within Okinawa
Prefecture, Ozawa suggested Wednesday he has an idea to satisfy both local
people and the United States to achieve breakthrough results.
But on Thursday when asked to reveal what that might be, Ozawa said he has no
''concrete'' ideas to resolve the base issue, adding he basically stands by an
accord struck by the two countries in May, in which the base is scheduled to be
relocated to a less populated coastal area but not outside the prefecture.
Strong opposition over the agreement remains among many people in Okinawa as
Kan's predecessor Yukio Hatoyama ahead of the DPJ taking power last September
floated the idea of moving the base out of the island prefecture.
The upcoming election comes after the DPJ's serious setback in the House of
Councillors election in July.
As to how to avoid policy gridlock in the so-called ''twisted Diet'' -- in
which opposition parties now control the upper house and the ruling bloc the
lower house -- Ozawa signaled the need of forming a grand coalition with new
parties.
Kan, meanwhile, said there is room to reach cross-party consensus on important
issues for the future of Japan, such as fiscal consolidation, even with
opposition parties if the coalition engages in discussions with them in a
humble manner.
Kan expressed opposition to dissolving the House of Representatives for a
general election in the near future.
''There are three more years in the term of the chamber and if I get reelected,
I'd like to run the government steadily,'' Kan said.
Ozawa did not define his position on the possibility, saying he will consider
the matter if he wins the election.
==Kyodo
2010-09-02 23:02:31


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