ID :
49947
Tue, 03/10/2009 - 21:27
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/49947
The shortlink copeid
Ozawa hints at resignation if scandal hurts DPJ's election chances+
TOKYO, March 10 Kyodo - Main opposition Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa hinted Tuesday he will make a decision on resignation if a political funds scandal which led to the arrest of his secretary last week will have negative effects on the
party in a general election.
Meanwhile, prosecutors have asked a DPJ House of Representatives member,
Tomohiro Ishikawa, to accept questioning on a voluntary basis over the scandal,
investigative sources said.
Ishikawa, a former secretary of Ozawa, is believed to have crafted political
funds reports for Ozawa's fund management body, and the Tokyo District Public
Prosecutors Office expects him to detail the background of the scandal,
according to the sources.
At a news conference, Ozawa said, ''In order to achieve my lifelong goal, we
have to score a victory in a general election. I would like to make judgments
on my standards of future actions by placing a measure on this point.''
But he denied he will step down at this time, saying, ''I'm certainly not
thinking about resignation until a final conclusion comes out,'' adding that he
needs to make a decision by looking into the contents of the investigation.
Ozawa reiterated his belief that his arrested secretary, 47-year-old Takanori
Okubo, will not be indicted, while admitting he bears responsibility for
supervising Okubo.
Okubo's arrest last week is considered to be a serious blow to the main
opposition party, which is hoping to seize power from the Liberal Democratic
Party-led ruling coalition in a lower house election against the backdrop of
rising public support for the DPJ.
A House of Representatives election must be held by this fall.
In the news conference, Ozawa publicly offered an apology for the first time,
saying, ''I'd like to apologize for causing trouble and worries to party
members as well as the public since last week because of matters related to my
political funds.''
Okubo allegedly took illegal donations of 21 million yen from general
contractor Nishimatsu Construction Co. from 2003 to 2006 and falsely reported
them as donations from dummy entities in violation of the political funds
control law.
It is believed that Ishikawa, who became a secretary for Ozawa in 1996 and won
a seat in the Diet in March 2007, worked with Okubo for several years at
Ozawa's fund management body, Rikuzankai.
In the political funds report from 2000 to 2004 for Rikuzankai, the name of
Ishikawa appears as a person in charge of clerical work.
The lawmaker has said his job at the organization included creating political
funds reports and issuance of bills and receipts, as well as soliciting
fundraising party tickets.
The prosecutors are expected to confirm whether he was aware of the possibly
illegal situation involving the Nishimatsu-related donations, the sources said.
Ozawa said, meanwhile, his biggest goal as a politician is to realize a change
of government, establish politics and an administration led by the people, and
''establish a real parliamentary democracy'' in Japan.
Ozawa denied reports that Nishimatsu's donations were intended to gain his
favor in relation to public works projects, saying he thinks there is no
relationship between the donations and acceptance of public works projects
orders.
Earlier in the day, Ozawa told his party executives that he has dealt with
political funds properly in accordance with the political funds control law and
offered an apology, Ozawa said.
At two meetings with senior party lawmakers, no DPJ lawmakers called for his
resignation, party members said.
DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama said at the meetings he wants DPJ members
to unite and realize Ozawa's aim, according to a DPJ lawmaker who was present.
The funds scandal involving Nishimatsu has shown signs of spreading to the
ruling bloc. According to the investigative sources, prosecutors plan to
question associates of Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshihiro Nikai
possibly this week over alleged illegal donations involving Nishimatsu.
Nikai told reporters on Tuesday that prosecutors have so far questioned none of
his aides or associates in connection with the Nishimatsu scandal.
Nikai, a veteran LDP lawmaker, has denied any wrongdoing. On Monday, he told
the House of Councillors Budget Committee he had no recollection of receiving
donations from the construction company.
==Kyodo
2009-03-10 21:13:16
party in a general election.
Meanwhile, prosecutors have asked a DPJ House of Representatives member,
Tomohiro Ishikawa, to accept questioning on a voluntary basis over the scandal,
investigative sources said.
Ishikawa, a former secretary of Ozawa, is believed to have crafted political
funds reports for Ozawa's fund management body, and the Tokyo District Public
Prosecutors Office expects him to detail the background of the scandal,
according to the sources.
At a news conference, Ozawa said, ''In order to achieve my lifelong goal, we
have to score a victory in a general election. I would like to make judgments
on my standards of future actions by placing a measure on this point.''
But he denied he will step down at this time, saying, ''I'm certainly not
thinking about resignation until a final conclusion comes out,'' adding that he
needs to make a decision by looking into the contents of the investigation.
Ozawa reiterated his belief that his arrested secretary, 47-year-old Takanori
Okubo, will not be indicted, while admitting he bears responsibility for
supervising Okubo.
Okubo's arrest last week is considered to be a serious blow to the main
opposition party, which is hoping to seize power from the Liberal Democratic
Party-led ruling coalition in a lower house election against the backdrop of
rising public support for the DPJ.
A House of Representatives election must be held by this fall.
In the news conference, Ozawa publicly offered an apology for the first time,
saying, ''I'd like to apologize for causing trouble and worries to party
members as well as the public since last week because of matters related to my
political funds.''
Okubo allegedly took illegal donations of 21 million yen from general
contractor Nishimatsu Construction Co. from 2003 to 2006 and falsely reported
them as donations from dummy entities in violation of the political funds
control law.
It is believed that Ishikawa, who became a secretary for Ozawa in 1996 and won
a seat in the Diet in March 2007, worked with Okubo for several years at
Ozawa's fund management body, Rikuzankai.
In the political funds report from 2000 to 2004 for Rikuzankai, the name of
Ishikawa appears as a person in charge of clerical work.
The lawmaker has said his job at the organization included creating political
funds reports and issuance of bills and receipts, as well as soliciting
fundraising party tickets.
The prosecutors are expected to confirm whether he was aware of the possibly
illegal situation involving the Nishimatsu-related donations, the sources said.
Ozawa said, meanwhile, his biggest goal as a politician is to realize a change
of government, establish politics and an administration led by the people, and
''establish a real parliamentary democracy'' in Japan.
Ozawa denied reports that Nishimatsu's donations were intended to gain his
favor in relation to public works projects, saying he thinks there is no
relationship between the donations and acceptance of public works projects
orders.
Earlier in the day, Ozawa told his party executives that he has dealt with
political funds properly in accordance with the political funds control law and
offered an apology, Ozawa said.
At two meetings with senior party lawmakers, no DPJ lawmakers called for his
resignation, party members said.
DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama said at the meetings he wants DPJ members
to unite and realize Ozawa's aim, according to a DPJ lawmaker who was present.
The funds scandal involving Nishimatsu has shown signs of spreading to the
ruling bloc. According to the investigative sources, prosecutors plan to
question associates of Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshihiro Nikai
possibly this week over alleged illegal donations involving Nishimatsu.
Nikai told reporters on Tuesday that prosecutors have so far questioned none of
his aides or associates in connection with the Nishimatsu scandal.
Nikai, a veteran LDP lawmaker, has denied any wrongdoing. On Monday, he told
the House of Councillors Budget Committee he had no recollection of receiving
donations from the construction company.
==Kyodo
2009-03-10 21:13:16
