Pressure builds for Ozawa to resign over funding
Source: Agencies |
February 2, 2010, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
PRESSURE appeared to be rising yesterday for Japanese ruling party kingpin Ichiro Ozawa to quit ahead of an election, after a poll showed a majority of voters think he should go if a former aide is charged in a funding scandal.
Ozawa's electioneering skills have been thought vital to the Democratic Party's chances of winning the upper house poll expected in July, but he has come under fire after three current and former aides were arrested last month on suspicion of misreporting political donations.
Ozawa, who was questioned by prosecutors for a second time on Sunday, hinted he could step down if he himself is charged, but denied he was involved in illegal activity.
"I have never taken any illegal contributions, bribes or improper funds so I don't expect to be held criminally responsible," Ozawa said.
"But if I am, then I would bear heavy responsibility."
In a poll by the Mainichi newspaper, 76 percent of respondents said they thought he should resign if one of the former aides, a member of parliament, was indicted. Media reports said the aide could be charged on Thursday.
Voter support for Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's four-month-old government stood at 50 percent, down five points, but slightly higher than in other recent polls.
The Democrats must avoid policy deadlock as they struggle to balance economic stimulus and a fight against deflation with rising public debt and the needs of a rapidly aging population.
Though he won a landslide in last year's general election for the more powerful lower house, Hatoyama needs to win a majority in the upper house to enable his government to pass laws smoothly without relying on a coalition with two small parties that differ with the Democrats on security and economic policy.
Ozawa has repeatedly said he will stay in the key post of Democratic Party secretary-general, denying any intentional wrongdoing after he was questioned by prosecutors.
Increasingly negative public opinion could make him more of a liability than an asset for Hatoyama, who has previously said he would stand by Ozawa.
"It is a matter of course to show we can keep our house in order, but while the prosecutors are investigating, all we can do is watch the situation calmly," Hatoyama said.
Ozawa's electioneering skills have been thought vital to the Democratic Party's chances of winning the upper house poll expected in July, but he has come under fire after three current and former aides were arrested last month on suspicion of misreporting political donations.
Ozawa, who was questioned by prosecutors for a second time on Sunday, hinted he could step down if he himself is charged, but denied he was involved in illegal activity.
"I have never taken any illegal contributions, bribes or improper funds so I don't expect to be held criminally responsible," Ozawa said.
"But if I am, then I would bear heavy responsibility."
In a poll by the Mainichi newspaper, 76 percent of respondents said they thought he should resign if one of the former aides, a member of parliament, was indicted. Media reports said the aide could be charged on Thursday.
Voter support for Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's four-month-old government stood at 50 percent, down five points, but slightly higher than in other recent polls.
The Democrats must avoid policy deadlock as they struggle to balance economic stimulus and a fight against deflation with rising public debt and the needs of a rapidly aging population.
Though he won a landslide in last year's general election for the more powerful lower house, Hatoyama needs to win a majority in the upper house to enable his government to pass laws smoothly without relying on a coalition with two small parties that differ with the Democrats on security and economic policy.
Ozawa has repeatedly said he will stay in the key post of Democratic Party secretary-general, denying any intentional wrongdoing after he was questioned by prosecutors.
Increasingly negative public opinion could make him more of a liability than an asset for Hatoyama, who has previously said he would stand by Ozawa.
"It is a matter of course to show we can keep our house in order, but while the prosecutors are investigating, all we can do is watch the situation calmly," Hatoyama said.
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