 DPJ and SDP members leave Diet sessions to protest prime minister's responses Members of the Democratic Party of Japan and the Social Democratic Party walked out of a House of Representatives plenary session on January 24 in protest against Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro's insincere manner of responding to questions asked by DPJ leader Okada Katsuya. Dissatisfied with Koizumi's answers to his initial questions, Okada asked nine follow-up questions concerning such issues as the disaster victims relief law and the pension system. In response to Okada's second questioning, Koizumi only said, "I have clearly answered all the questions," provoking DPJ and SDP lawmakers to leave the Lower House session. While members of the two opposition parties were absent, the plenary session was continued with Liberal Democratic, Komei, and Japanese Communist party members participating. At a press conference later in the day, JCP Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi said, "Prime Minister Koizumi should have been more careful about his way of answering questions. At the same time, if they (DPJ and SDP) have dissatisfaction with Koizumi's response, they should express their opinion in parliamentary discussions." (end) |