ID :
163492
Wed, 02/23/2011 - 18:20
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Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/163492
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Japan DPJ member decides to quit gov't post in protest at Kan's leadership
TOKYO (Kyodo) - A Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker said Wednesday he has decided to leave a senior government post in protest at the way Prime Minister Naoto Kan has been running the government and the ruling party.
Kenko Matsuki, a parliamentary secretary at the farm ministry, said he will formally convey his intention to step down from the post to Kan on Thursday.
''DPJ members got together to make efforts under the principle of putting people's lives first. But it isn't heading in that direction,'' he told a news conference held around midnight to explain why he wants to resign.
He said Kan's proactive stance toward raising the consumption tax and joining talks for a U.S.-backed regional free trade agreement, known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, are problematic.
Matsuki is one of the closest allies of former DPJ chief Ichiro Ozawa, who was indicted last month over a funds scandal. His decision came a day after the DPJ leadership decided to suspend Ozawa's party membership, despite opposition among lawmakers associated with the former leader.
Matsuki's move is the latest in a series of problems affecting Kan's 8-month-old government. It remains uncertain whether his decision will touch off a rebellion from other DPJ lawmakers in the government.
A source familiar with Kan said if Matsuki turns in his resignation, it would be difficult for the premier not to accept it.
Conflict within the DPJ between pro- and anti-Ozawa lawmakers has been intensifying in recent weeks, at a time when Kan is facing mounting pressure to quit or dissolve the lower house for a general election.
In a related development, Kazuhiro Haraguchi, a former internal affairs minister who was part of Kan's Cabinet until September, launched a new policy group Wednesday within the DPJ drawing about 50 lawmakers, most of them having close connections with Ozawa, to its first meeting.
Sixteen DPJ lawmakers, who are also Ozawa's disciples, launched a revolt last week. The 16 have threatened to leave the DPJ's parliamentary ranks in the lower house and vote against the fiscal 2011 budget and related bills in the ongoing Diet session.
According to DPJ lawmakers, Matsuki -- a lower house member who was elected for the first time in 2003 and has been a parliamentary secretary since September -- has been expressing his dissatisfaction with Kan's leadership and his handling of the 2009 election campaign pledges to his peers in the party.
Ozawa, who is credited with bringing the DPJ to power in 2009, and his allies have criticized Kan's policies, claiming they have been running counter to the election pledges.
Kan has staked his premiership on fiscal reforms, being enthusiastic to pave the way for drastic tax and social security reforms.
He has suggested the need for raising the consumption tax to fund increasing social security costs and to review some of the key policies, ranging from toll-free expressways to monthly child allowances.
Opposition party lawmakers have welcomed rising tensions within the government and the DPJ.
''The DPJ's mudslides have begun. I'm certain that this will lead to its big fall,'' Ryotaro Tanose, acting secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party, told reporters, in response to Matsuki's move. ''A general election will be held in the not too distant future. We will accelerate our preparations for that.''
Ozawa, who heads the biggest DPJ group, was indicted on Jan. 31 over questionable reporting by his political fund management body. He has denied any wrongdoing.
Ozawa lost to Kan in the party's presidential election last September.
Kenko Matsuki, a parliamentary secretary at the farm ministry, said he will formally convey his intention to step down from the post to Kan on Thursday.
''DPJ members got together to make efforts under the principle of putting people's lives first. But it isn't heading in that direction,'' he told a news conference held around midnight to explain why he wants to resign.
He said Kan's proactive stance toward raising the consumption tax and joining talks for a U.S.-backed regional free trade agreement, known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, are problematic.
Matsuki is one of the closest allies of former DPJ chief Ichiro Ozawa, who was indicted last month over a funds scandal. His decision came a day after the DPJ leadership decided to suspend Ozawa's party membership, despite opposition among lawmakers associated with the former leader.
Matsuki's move is the latest in a series of problems affecting Kan's 8-month-old government. It remains uncertain whether his decision will touch off a rebellion from other DPJ lawmakers in the government.
A source familiar with Kan said if Matsuki turns in his resignation, it would be difficult for the premier not to accept it.
Conflict within the DPJ between pro- and anti-Ozawa lawmakers has been intensifying in recent weeks, at a time when Kan is facing mounting pressure to quit or dissolve the lower house for a general election.
In a related development, Kazuhiro Haraguchi, a former internal affairs minister who was part of Kan's Cabinet until September, launched a new policy group Wednesday within the DPJ drawing about 50 lawmakers, most of them having close connections with Ozawa, to its first meeting.
Sixteen DPJ lawmakers, who are also Ozawa's disciples, launched a revolt last week. The 16 have threatened to leave the DPJ's parliamentary ranks in the lower house and vote against the fiscal 2011 budget and related bills in the ongoing Diet session.
According to DPJ lawmakers, Matsuki -- a lower house member who was elected for the first time in 2003 and has been a parliamentary secretary since September -- has been expressing his dissatisfaction with Kan's leadership and his handling of the 2009 election campaign pledges to his peers in the party.
Ozawa, who is credited with bringing the DPJ to power in 2009, and his allies have criticized Kan's policies, claiming they have been running counter to the election pledges.
Kan has staked his premiership on fiscal reforms, being enthusiastic to pave the way for drastic tax and social security reforms.
He has suggested the need for raising the consumption tax to fund increasing social security costs and to review some of the key policies, ranging from toll-free expressways to monthly child allowances.
Opposition party lawmakers have welcomed rising tensions within the government and the DPJ.
''The DPJ's mudslides have begun. I'm certain that this will lead to its big fall,'' Ryotaro Tanose, acting secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party, told reporters, in response to Matsuki's move. ''A general election will be held in the not too distant future. We will accelerate our preparations for that.''
Ozawa, who heads the biggest DPJ group, was indicted on Jan. 31 over questionable reporting by his political fund management body. He has denied any wrongdoing.
Ozawa lost to Kan in the party's presidential election last September.
