Double blow for Abe as ministers quit
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was dealt a double blow on Monday when his recently appointed trade and industry minister quit over a funding scandal and a few hours later the justice minister resigned after being accused of violating electoral laws.
The resignations of the two women could complicate tough decisions on key policies, including whether to go ahead with an unpopular plan to raise the national sales tax and planned restarts of nuclear reactors that were shut down after the 2011 Fukushima disaster.
Their decision to stand down is Abe's biggest setback since taking office in 2012 but he hopes to contain the damage with swift replacements. The opposition is eyeing other potentially vulnerable ministers appointed in a Cabinet reshuffle in early September. Further resignations could raise doubts about Abe's own future, according to political experts.
Trade and Industry Minister Yuko Obuchi, 40, the daughter of a former prime minister and tipped to become Japan's first female premier, told a news conference she was resigning after allegations that her support groups misused political funds.
Paper fans
Justice Minister Midori Matsushima also resigned after the opposition Democratic Party had filed a criminal complaint, accusing her of violating election law by distributing paper fans to voters.
Obuchi and Matsushima were two of five women appointed by Abe in the Cabinet reshuffle less than two months ago - a move intended to boost his popularity and show his commitment to promoting women as part of his "Abenomics" strategy to revive the economy.
"I appointed them and as prime minister, I bear responsibility," Abe said at his office. "I deeply apologize to the people of the nation."
As head of the powerful Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Obuchi, a telegenic mother of two, was tasked with selling Abe's unpopular plan to restart nuclear reactors to a wary public worried about safety.
"We cannot let economic policy and energy policy stagnate at the ministry because of my problems, so I will resign my position," a solemn Obuchi said, bowing deeply in apology.
Second stint
The departures are the first Cabinet resignations for Abe, who took office in December 2012 for a rare second term, promising to revive Japan's stalled economy.
Abe's first stint as prime minister in 2006-07 was marred by scandals among his ministers - several quit and one committed suicide. Abe himself resigned after just one year in the face of parliamentary deadlock, falling popularity and ill health.
His present administration had been little touched by scandal until the Cabinet reshuffle. Abe's ruling coalition has a hefty parliamentary majority and no general election need be held until 2016, but the opposition Democrats have taken aim at new ministers in debates to try to dent Abe's popularity.
Defense Minister Akinori Eto, also appointed in September, has faced questions from the opposition over his political funds.
"They are trying to limit the damage by getting rid of those (two) quickly," said Tomoaki Iwai, a political science professor at Nihon University. "But Abe's support will decline and ... policy implementation will not go smoothly," he said, adding the situation would become far tougher if other ministers also quit.
Reuters - AP - Xinhua
(China Daily 10/21/2014 page11)
