ID :
155874
Tue, 01/04/2011 - 16:29
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/155874
The shortlink copeid
Kan Urges Ozawa to Consider Resigning as Lawmaker if Indicted
Tokyo, Jan. 4 (Jiji Press)--Prime Minister Naoto Kan urged Ichiro Ozawa, former chief of his Democratic Party of Japan, on Tuesday to consider resigning as lawmaker when he is charged in a political funding scandal.
Once indicted, Ozawa should focus on a trial by deciding his own
fate as politician, Kan said at his New Year's press conference.
Ozawa faces mandatory indictment for his suspected role in the
falsification of political funding reports by his fund management body after
a prosecution inquest panel last year overruled prosecutors' decisions not
to charge him.
Kan also said that he hopes to resolve the issue of money and
politics this year.
He urged Ozawa to appear before the House of Representatives
Deliberative Council on Political Ethics to explain the scandal.
Kan left open the possibility that the government will revise a
proposed national budget for fiscal 2011 starting in April, saying he hopes
to win understanding and support of the budget from many parties in
parliament.
Kan called for supraparty discussions on comprehensive reforms of
the country's social security and tax systems including the consumption tax.
A broad reform outline should come up around June, he said.
Kan reiterated that Japan's agriculture can survive even if the
country participates in the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement.
Japan will make a final decision around June on whether to join in
talks on the pact, he said.
The TPP was launched by Brunei, Chile, New Zealand and Singapore in
2006. Five other countries--Australia, Malaysia, Peru, the United States and
Vietnam--are in talks to join the accord.
Kan signaled his readiness to change his cabinet lineup, saying he
hopes to create a government strong enough to pass the budget as quickly as
possible.
But he declined to discuss details, including whether to remove
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku and transport minister Sumio
Mabuchi. He only said he will consider the matter thoroughly.
The opposition-controlled House of Councillors, the upper chamber
of parliament, late last year passed censure motions against the two
ministers for their poor handling of a maritime collision involving Japanese
and Chinese ships near disputed islands in the East China Sea in September.
Kan also said that he has no plan to dissolve the Lower House for a
snap election anytime soon.
END
Once indicted, Ozawa should focus on a trial by deciding his own
fate as politician, Kan said at his New Year's press conference.
Ozawa faces mandatory indictment for his suspected role in the
falsification of political funding reports by his fund management body after
a prosecution inquest panel last year overruled prosecutors' decisions not
to charge him.
Kan also said that he hopes to resolve the issue of money and
politics this year.
He urged Ozawa to appear before the House of Representatives
Deliberative Council on Political Ethics to explain the scandal.
Kan left open the possibility that the government will revise a
proposed national budget for fiscal 2011 starting in April, saying he hopes
to win understanding and support of the budget from many parties in
parliament.
Kan called for supraparty discussions on comprehensive reforms of
the country's social security and tax systems including the consumption tax.
A broad reform outline should come up around June, he said.
Kan reiterated that Japan's agriculture can survive even if the
country participates in the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement.
Japan will make a final decision around June on whether to join in
talks on the pact, he said.
The TPP was launched by Brunei, Chile, New Zealand and Singapore in
2006. Five other countries--Australia, Malaysia, Peru, the United States and
Vietnam--are in talks to join the accord.
Kan signaled his readiness to change his cabinet lineup, saying he
hopes to create a government strong enough to pass the budget as quickly as
possible.
But he declined to discuss details, including whether to remove
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku and transport minister Sumio
Mabuchi. He only said he will consider the matter thoroughly.
The opposition-controlled House of Councillors, the upper chamber
of parliament, late last year passed censure motions against the two
ministers for their poor handling of a maritime collision involving Japanese
and Chinese ships near disputed islands in the East China Sea in September.
Kan also said that he has no plan to dissolve the Lower House for a
snap election anytime soon.
END
