Related News
Ozawa refuses PM's request to leave ruling party
Source: Agencies |
February 11, 2011, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
JAPANESE ruling party powerbroker Ichiro Ozawa yesterday refused a request from Prime Minister Naoto Kan to leave the party until his trial over a funding scandal ended, posing a dilemma for the embattled premier.
Kan, struggling with sagging ratings and a divided parliament where he needs opposition help to enact a workable budget, must now decide whether to force Ozawa out, despite his clout as a veteran strategist and a leader of a group of lawmakers in the ruling Democratic Party of Japan.
Ozawa's scandal-tainted image, along with the DPJ's flip-flops over costly campaign promises, diplomatic missteps and doubts about Kan's leadership, has helped slice support for the government to below 30 percent.
But pushing him out would anger Ozawa's party backers at a time when their votes in parliament are crucial to pass bills to implement a 92.4 trillion yen (US$1 trillion) budget for the fiscal year from April 1.
Ozawa, a former DPJ leader who has repeatedly said he had done nothing wrong and has vowed to clear his name in court, said he wanted to remain in the party.
"It can't be helped if a majority (in the party) think that I should distance myself from the party or that the party should punish me in some way. But this isn't appropriate for the advancement of sound party politics or for democracy," Ozawa said.
"I have disclosed all (of my funding records) and have not done anything wrong."
Ozawa was indicted last week over suspected misreporting by his political funding body after a judicial panel of ordinary citizens ruled last year that he must be charged.
Kan said DPJ executives would discuss how to deal with Ozawa's fate. Media reports have said party executives were considering suspending Ozawa's party membership for six months, cutting him off from party funds or official support.
Kan, struggling with sagging ratings and a divided parliament where he needs opposition help to enact a workable budget, must now decide whether to force Ozawa out, despite his clout as a veteran strategist and a leader of a group of lawmakers in the ruling Democratic Party of Japan.
Ozawa's scandal-tainted image, along with the DPJ's flip-flops over costly campaign promises, diplomatic missteps and doubts about Kan's leadership, has helped slice support for the government to below 30 percent.
But pushing him out would anger Ozawa's party backers at a time when their votes in parliament are crucial to pass bills to implement a 92.4 trillion yen (US$1 trillion) budget for the fiscal year from April 1.
Ozawa, a former DPJ leader who has repeatedly said he had done nothing wrong and has vowed to clear his name in court, said he wanted to remain in the party.
"It can't be helped if a majority (in the party) think that I should distance myself from the party or that the party should punish me in some way. But this isn't appropriate for the advancement of sound party politics or for democracy," Ozawa said.
"I have disclosed all (of my funding records) and have not done anything wrong."
Ozawa was indicted last week over suspected misreporting by his political funding body after a judicial panel of ordinary citizens ruled last year that he must be charged.
Kan said DPJ executives would discuss how to deal with Ozawa's fate. Media reports have said party executives were considering suspending Ozawa's party membership for six months, cutting him off from party funds or official support.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
