Asia-Pacific

Japan DPJ proposes suspending powerbroker Ozawa

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-02-15 09:14

TOKYO - Executives of Japan's ruling Democratic Party proposed suspending the party membership of powerbroker Ichiro Ozawa over a funding scandal on Monday, risking a split in the party.

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Ozawa's scandal-tainted image has helped slice Prime Minister Naoto Kan's support rate, but punishing him risks angering his backers in the party at a time when their votes in parliament are crucial to pass bills to implement the 92.4 trillion yen ($1.108 trillion) budget for the fiscal year from April 1.

The premier is trying to get budget-related bills through a divided parliament, either by wooing enough opposition votes in the upper house for a simple majority or getting help from a tiny former coalition partner in the lower house to build the two-thirds majority needed to override the upper chamber.

Officials proposed suspending Ozawa's membership until his trial in a funding scandal ends, the party said in a statement.

Jiji news agency said three executives had opposed the punishment. Other party members have also protested.

The Ozawa scandal, along with the party's flip-flops over costly campaign promises and diplomatic missteps, have pushed down support for Kan's government to below 20 percent, the lowest since he took office in June.

"I think the party can win some support from the public by showing the attitude to draw a line and punish in some way," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano told a news conference.

The decision is not final until another group of executives sign off on the punishment.

Ozawa, a former party leader who has denied wrongdoing, last week refused Kan's request to voluntarily leave the party until his trial ended, leaving the prime minister in a dilemma over how to handle the matter. He was charged on January 31, but no date has been set for his trial.