opposition

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4 opposition party leaders agree to demand resignation of Fukui as BOJ Governor

Leaders of the four opposition parties, the Japanese Communist, Democratic, Social Democratic, and People's New parties held talks on June 24 in the Diet and agreed to a five-point appeal, including a call for the immediate resignation of Fukui Toshihiko as Bank of Japan Governor.

The five-point agreement is as follows:

(1) BOJ Governor Fukui must fully realize his responsibility and resign in order to regain the trust in BOJ in and out of Japan; (2) in order to ensure the safety of foods, the government should refrain from lifting the ban on U.S. beef imports under the present circumstances; (3) the government should stop expanding the role of the Air Self-Defense Force in support of U.S. military operations in Iraq and immediately withdraw all Self-Defense Force units from Iraq; (4) the government should not bear the cost of three trillion yen for the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan; and (5) the Cabinet must remedy its neglect of the Diet, in order to safeguard the authority of the highest organ of the state.

The four opposition leaders also agreed to call on the governing parties to hold budget committee meetings to discuss important questions of national politics while the Diet is not in session.

At a press conference after the talks, Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo stated, "It is important that the four opposition parties have reached an agreement on the five issues, though each party takes different position on important questions of national concerns."

In the talks, Shii took up the issue of Matsui Koji, Democratic Party House of Councilors member, that his private secretaries had been paid by a Murakami fund subsidiary and that Matsui himself contributed to and received donations from the Murakami fund. Shii pointed out the necessity for the DPJ to give a full account of the case before the public and settle the issue.

DPJ President Ozawa Ichiro answered that he will examine the matter.

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The four leaders agreed to ask Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro to hold talks with them before his departure for the United States on June 27.

However, Koizumi rejected the proposal on the grounds that he is "busy." JCP Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi commented on Koizumi's attitude, saying, "The prime minister is to blame for refusing to listen to voices of the public."
- Akahata, June 25, 2006