Foreign minister of Japan leaves post
March 7, 2011, Monday
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JAPANESE Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara decided to resign yesterday for taking donations from a foreign national, domestic media said, adding to unpopular Prime Minister Naoto Kan's troubles as he battles to keep his own job.
Maehara, a security hawk who favors close ties with the United States and has criticized China's defense buildup, has been seen as a key contender to replace the embattled Kan if he bows to pressure to step down himself.
Kyodo news agency said Maehara had rejected a plea from Kan to stay in his post.
Maehara's resignation would deepen the impression of a government in disarray, adding to pressure on Kan as he fights to keep his own party from unravelling and avoid calling a snap election while trying to enact budget bills in a hung parliament.
The stalemate is blocking the passage of bills needed to implement a US$1 trillion budget for the fiscal year from April.
It is also keeping Kan from getting opposition help on tax reforms, including a rise in the 5 percent sales tax, that he argues are vital to fund the costs of a fast-aging -society and curb public debt now twice the size of the US$5 trillion economy.
Kan, whose voter ratings have slid to around 20 percent, himself faces calls from within his own fractious Democratic Party to resign, while opposition parties are pushing him to call a snap election that the Democrats could well lose.
"We will take issue with the Prime Minister's responsibility in having appointed him (Maehara)," Kyodo news agency quoted main opposition Liberal Democratic Party policy chief Shigeru Ishiba as saying after reports that Maehara wanted to quit.
Kyodo added that the LDP would step up its push for an election for parliament's lower house, a poll that the ruling Democratic Party is in danger of losing if held soon.
The second-biggest opposition party, the New Komeito, echoed the criticism.
"This is symbolic of Kan's government, which has lost the public's confidence. The prime minister's responsibility will be greatly questioned, Kyodo quoted New Komeito executive Yoshio Urushibara as saying.
Maehara had admitted on Friday to accepting donations from a Korean resident of Japan, but said he had done so unknowingly. Taking political donations from foreigners is illegal if done intentionally.
"A foreign minister is at the forefront of negotiations with foreign countries. If a person in that post has taken donations from foreign nationals, resignation is unavoidable," said Yosuke Takagi, acting secretary-general of the New Komeito.
Maehara, a security hawk who favors close ties with the United States and has criticized China's defense buildup, has been seen as a key contender to replace the embattled Kan if he bows to pressure to step down himself.
Kyodo news agency said Maehara had rejected a plea from Kan to stay in his post.
Maehara's resignation would deepen the impression of a government in disarray, adding to pressure on Kan as he fights to keep his own party from unravelling and avoid calling a snap election while trying to enact budget bills in a hung parliament.
The stalemate is blocking the passage of bills needed to implement a US$1 trillion budget for the fiscal year from April.
It is also keeping Kan from getting opposition help on tax reforms, including a rise in the 5 percent sales tax, that he argues are vital to fund the costs of a fast-aging -society and curb public debt now twice the size of the US$5 trillion economy.
Kan, whose voter ratings have slid to around 20 percent, himself faces calls from within his own fractious Democratic Party to resign, while opposition parties are pushing him to call a snap election that the Democrats could well lose.
"We will take issue with the Prime Minister's responsibility in having appointed him (Maehara)," Kyodo news agency quoted main opposition Liberal Democratic Party policy chief Shigeru Ishiba as saying after reports that Maehara wanted to quit.
Kyodo added that the LDP would step up its push for an election for parliament's lower house, a poll that the ruling Democratic Party is in danger of losing if held soon.
The second-biggest opposition party, the New Komeito, echoed the criticism.
"This is symbolic of Kan's government, which has lost the public's confidence. The prime minister's responsibility will be greatly questioned, Kyodo quoted New Komeito executive Yoshio Urushibara as saying.
Maehara had admitted on Friday to accepting donations from a Korean resident of Japan, but said he had done so unknowingly. Taking political donations from foreigners is illegal if done intentionally.
"A foreign minister is at the forefront of negotiations with foreign countries. If a person in that post has taken donations from foreign nationals, resignation is unavoidable," said Yosuke Takagi, acting secretary-general of the New Komeito.
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