Upper House vice president quits over funds scandal

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Upper House vice president quits over funds scandal

House of Councilors Vice President Tsunoda Giichi on January 26 announced his resignation from the post due to a political funds scandal.

Tsunoda, whose membership in the Democratic Party of Japan has been on hold during his tenure as Upper House vice president, at a press conference said, "If I remain as the vice president, the whole procedure of the Diet will be affected." However, he did not take questions about the allegation against him claiming that related materials had been lost.

Although stepping down from the Upper House vice presidency, Tsunoda said he will not resign as a lawmaker.

It has been reported that Tsunoda's campaign headquarters failed to report 25.2 million yen in political donations it received during the 2001 Upper House election. His organization also reportedly received donations from a foreign organization in violation of the Political Funds Control Law.

Asked by reporters to comment on Tsunoda's resignation, Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi said, "His resignation is a matter of course, but the problem still remains. He must disclose the facts before the public and the Diet."

Ichida pointed out that the DPJ should clean up the corruption involving its members.

"Mr. Tsunoda must make efforts to look into the facts and report it to the Diet. The vice president must take a higher moral responsibility. His resignation will not and must not draw a curtain over this problem," said Ichida.
- Akahata, January 27, 2007