Scandal-tainted agriculture minister resigns

   Conceding that the well-publicized scandals over his political funds contributed to the ruling parties’ crushing defeat in the recent House of Councilors election, Agriculture Minister Akagi Norihiko on August 1 resigned after only two months of his tenure.

   Akagi became the fourth minister to be replaced in the Abe Cabinet established only ten months ago. Prime Minister Abe Shinzo also needs to be held responsible for consistently defending Akagi in defiance of public criticism.

   Akagi at a news conference said, “During the election campaign, various questions concerning myself were raised that impacted the election outcome, partly contributing to the ruling parties’ defeat.”

   He, however, refused to voluntarily disclose the receipts of his political organizations’ questionable office expenses.

   Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi on August 1 said to reporters, “His resignation is a matter of course, but this will not settle the issue. Mr. Akagi said he resigned because he had caused trouble for the Liberal Democratic Party in the election. He still refuses to disclose the facts. He must disclose the facts before the public.”

   Ichida also said, “Prime Minister Abe has a heavy responsibility for having appointed him as the minister and continuing to defend him. The Abe Cabinet itself should resign in response to the election results.”

   Pointing out that Abe appointed Akagi as the agriculture minister to succeed Matsuoka Toshikatsu, who had been under fire for similar problems and committed suicide, Ichida said, “The developments show that Prime Minister Abe has failed to reflect on the problem.”

   The series of corruption scandals involving Abe Cabinet ministers shows that it is impossible to prevent the recurrence of wrongdoings without revealing the facts in the Diet, Ichida stressed.

   Ichida said, “Since Mr. Akagi remains as a Dietmember, we will make efforts to disclose facts about his scandals in a suitable Diet committee. This will be an important issue in the upcoming extraordinary session of the Diet.”

                  - Akahata, August 2, 2007