ID :
206534
Sun, 09/11/2011 - 18:13
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/206534
The shortlink copeid
FOCUS: Noda caught in bind as minister quits over Fukushima gaffes+
TOKYO, Sept. 11 Kyodo -The one-week-old government of Prime Minster Yoshihiko Noda has already become embroiled in a public relations crisis, with a Cabinet member quitting over comments seen as insensitive toward residents near the radiation-leaking Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
Noda received a high approval rating around 60 percent in contrast with his predecessor Naoto Kan, under the slogan ''Japan will be unable to revive unless Fukushima revives.''
Noda has also been credited by his close aides as having appointed ''the right people in the right places'' when deciding the Cabinet lineup.
But the resignation Saturday of industry minister Yoshiro Hachiro, who had been in charge of nuclear policy, after calling areas near the plant a ''town of death,'' has instilled little confidence in a public hoping for effective handling of the Fukushima crisis.
Opposition parties, whose control of the upper house has hampered legislation, are taking aim at the prime minister over his appointment of Hachiro as a Cabinet member, with the issue likely to make it more difficult for Noda to break the political deadlock.
Hachiro, who reportedly rubbed up against a reporter and made a remark to the effect that he could contaminate the reporter with radiation, after visiting Fukushima Prefecture on Thursday, decided to leave the Cabinet only eight days after he took the post.
''His remarks were careless and called into question his qualifications to be a minister,'' said Jiro Yamaguchi, political analyst at Hokkaido University, adding Hachiro's resignation ''will deal a blow to Noda's government.''
In a similar development, Ryu Matsumoto resigned as reconstruction minister in July only nine days after he assumed the position after his remarks during a trip to an area affected by the March earthquake and tsunami were criticized as high-handed. Kan stepped down the following month.
After the Democratic Party of Japan took power in September 2009, Minoru Yanagida also quit late last year taking the blame over his comments widely seen as deriding his duty to respond to questions at parliament.
''Ministers from the DPJ have been forced out of the government over gaffes one after another as they have not learned how to behave as a minister due to lack of experience'' in political circles, Yamaguchi said.
Finance Minister Jun Azumi told reporters in Marseille, where he participated in the Group of Seven financial meeting, that Hachiro's remarks were ''imprudent,'' but added Noda is not responsible for his appointment of the minister.
Still, Noda is expected to face heavy scrutiny from the opposition bloc over his appointment of Hachiro in an extraordinary parliamentary session slated to begin Tuesday, at which he will deliver his first policy speech as prime minister.
''We must urge Noda to seriously reflect on'' his political maneuvering, Sadakazu Tanigaki, the head of the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party, told reporters after Hachiro tendered his resignation.
Some LDP lawmakers said they are also ready to attack Noda's responsibility for the appointment of Defense Minister Yasuo Ichikawa, who described himself as an ''amateur'' regarding national security issues while talking about his views on the issue of civilian control.
Noda is eyeing the formation of a grand coalition government with opposition parties including the LDP in the future to achieve his goals of speeding up reconstruction of areas ravaged by the disasters as well as the ensuing nuclear crisis, but his attempt could end in failure, political observers said.
On Aug. 29, a humorous speech by Noda, who compared himself to a loach, attracted many junior DPJ lawmakers and helped him to score an upset victory in its presidential election. Media polls showed last week that the support ratings for his Cabinet stood around 60 percent, compared with that of Kan's below 20 percent.
Noda received a high approval rating around 60 percent in contrast with his predecessor Naoto Kan, under the slogan ''Japan will be unable to revive unless Fukushima revives.''
Noda has also been credited by his close aides as having appointed ''the right people in the right places'' when deciding the Cabinet lineup.
But the resignation Saturday of industry minister Yoshiro Hachiro, who had been in charge of nuclear policy, after calling areas near the plant a ''town of death,'' has instilled little confidence in a public hoping for effective handling of the Fukushima crisis.
Opposition parties, whose control of the upper house has hampered legislation, are taking aim at the prime minister over his appointment of Hachiro as a Cabinet member, with the issue likely to make it more difficult for Noda to break the political deadlock.
Hachiro, who reportedly rubbed up against a reporter and made a remark to the effect that he could contaminate the reporter with radiation, after visiting Fukushima Prefecture on Thursday, decided to leave the Cabinet only eight days after he took the post.
''His remarks were careless and called into question his qualifications to be a minister,'' said Jiro Yamaguchi, political analyst at Hokkaido University, adding Hachiro's resignation ''will deal a blow to Noda's government.''
In a similar development, Ryu Matsumoto resigned as reconstruction minister in July only nine days after he assumed the position after his remarks during a trip to an area affected by the March earthquake and tsunami were criticized as high-handed. Kan stepped down the following month.
After the Democratic Party of Japan took power in September 2009, Minoru Yanagida also quit late last year taking the blame over his comments widely seen as deriding his duty to respond to questions at parliament.
''Ministers from the DPJ have been forced out of the government over gaffes one after another as they have not learned how to behave as a minister due to lack of experience'' in political circles, Yamaguchi said.
Finance Minister Jun Azumi told reporters in Marseille, where he participated in the Group of Seven financial meeting, that Hachiro's remarks were ''imprudent,'' but added Noda is not responsible for his appointment of the minister.
Still, Noda is expected to face heavy scrutiny from the opposition bloc over his appointment of Hachiro in an extraordinary parliamentary session slated to begin Tuesday, at which he will deliver his first policy speech as prime minister.
''We must urge Noda to seriously reflect on'' his political maneuvering, Sadakazu Tanigaki, the head of the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party, told reporters after Hachiro tendered his resignation.
Some LDP lawmakers said they are also ready to attack Noda's responsibility for the appointment of Defense Minister Yasuo Ichikawa, who described himself as an ''amateur'' regarding national security issues while talking about his views on the issue of civilian control.
Noda is eyeing the formation of a grand coalition government with opposition parties including the LDP in the future to achieve his goals of speeding up reconstruction of areas ravaged by the disasters as well as the ensuing nuclear crisis, but his attempt could end in failure, political observers said.
On Aug. 29, a humorous speech by Noda, who compared himself to a loach, attracted many junior DPJ lawmakers and helped him to score an upset victory in its presidential election. Media polls showed last week that the support ratings for his Cabinet stood around 60 percent, compared with that of Kan's below 20 percent.
