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Japan aims to address political infighting
Source: Agencies |
December 28, 2010, Tuesday
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SENIOR executives of Japan's ruling Democratic Party agreed yesterday that a parliamentary ethics panel should be convened to summon powerbroker Ichiro Ozawa over a funding scandal, threatening to widen a rift in the party.
The bickering is distracting the government from addressing tough policy decisions and complicating prospects for passing laws, including bills needed to implement the budget for the fiscal year from April 1, approved by the cabinet on Friday.
The strife in the Democratic Party of Japan is also undermining support rates for Prime Minister Naoto Kan's six-month-old government, fanning speculation that he may become Japan's latest short-lived leader.
Ethics panel
The DPJ's top officials, including Kan, have agreed to take procedures to call Ozawa before the ethics panel, although an appearance would still not be mandatory, DPJ Secretary-General Katsuya Okada told a news conference.
The party would make the arrangements before the next session of parliament, expected to start in January, if Ozawa refused to appear voluntarily before then, he said.
"We can't win the trust of the people if we do not show our stance on 'money and politics' scandals," Okada said.
A survey by the Nikkei business daily published yesterday showed only about one in four voters backed Kan's administration, while the percentage of dissatisfied voters rose five points to 65 percent. Kan is already Japan's fifth premier since 2006.
Ozawa, 68, a veteran political strategist who once headed the DPJ, has refused to appear at the ethics panel to explain the scandal, in which he faces indictment over suspected misreporting by his political funds body. He has denied any wrongdoing.
Possible split
The feud risks a split within the DPJ, which swept to power in August 2009 promising change, but how many politicians would join Ozawa if he leaves the party is unclear.
Okada avoided commenting on what the party would do if Ozawa refused to go before the ethics panel even if it was convened.
Kan appears to have thought that forcing Ozawa to answer questions in parliament would help boost government support and improve his own chances of keeping his job.
Kan is also under pressure from opposition parties for Ozawa to explain the scandal, as rival parties threaten to block bills in parliament's upper house, where they have a majority.
But while bringing Ozawa to account might help clear the way for cooperation on passing bills with the second-biggest -opposition party, the New Komeito, that outcome is far from assured.
Japanese media have said Kan is also considering reshuffling his cabinet to try to boost his ratings while reaching out to a tiny opposition party to help pass laws.
The bickering is distracting the government from addressing tough policy decisions and complicating prospects for passing laws, including bills needed to implement the budget for the fiscal year from April 1, approved by the cabinet on Friday.
The strife in the Democratic Party of Japan is also undermining support rates for Prime Minister Naoto Kan's six-month-old government, fanning speculation that he may become Japan's latest short-lived leader.
Ethics panel
The DPJ's top officials, including Kan, have agreed to take procedures to call Ozawa before the ethics panel, although an appearance would still not be mandatory, DPJ Secretary-General Katsuya Okada told a news conference.
The party would make the arrangements before the next session of parliament, expected to start in January, if Ozawa refused to appear voluntarily before then, he said.
"We can't win the trust of the people if we do not show our stance on 'money and politics' scandals," Okada said.
A survey by the Nikkei business daily published yesterday showed only about one in four voters backed Kan's administration, while the percentage of dissatisfied voters rose five points to 65 percent. Kan is already Japan's fifth premier since 2006.
Ozawa, 68, a veteran political strategist who once headed the DPJ, has refused to appear at the ethics panel to explain the scandal, in which he faces indictment over suspected misreporting by his political funds body. He has denied any wrongdoing.
Possible split
The feud risks a split within the DPJ, which swept to power in August 2009 promising change, but how many politicians would join Ozawa if he leaves the party is unclear.
Okada avoided commenting on what the party would do if Ozawa refused to go before the ethics panel even if it was convened.
Kan appears to have thought that forcing Ozawa to answer questions in parliament would help boost government support and improve his own chances of keeping his job.
Kan is also under pressure from opposition parties for Ozawa to explain the scandal, as rival parties threaten to block bills in parliament's upper house, where they have a majority.
But while bringing Ozawa to account might help clear the way for cooperation on passing bills with the second-biggest -opposition party, the New Komeito, that outcome is far from assured.
Japanese media have said Kan is also considering reshuffling his cabinet to try to boost his ratings while reaching out to a tiny opposition party to help pass laws.
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