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Agriculture Minister to step down over money scandal
Agriculture Minister Endo Takehiko on September 2 decided to resign to take responsibility for a money scandal involving his agricultural mutual aid association.
Endofs resignation, only a week after the cabinet reshuffle, comes as a major blow to the Abe Cabinet since it calls into question Prime Minister Abe Shinzofs responsibility for appointing him to the post. Endofs predecessors Matsuoka Toshikatsu committed suicide and Akagi Norihiko resigned due to corruption scandals.
The Okitama Agricultural Mutual Aid Association which Endo has headed for a long time fraudulently received 1.15 million yen of government subsidies for its scheme to insure farmers against damages from natural disasters.
When this fact came to light on September 1, Endo admitted that this was a gserious misconducth but refused to resign, saying, gNow that I have been appointed as the minister, I will do my best.h
Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on a TV program on the morning of September 2 demanded that Endo resign or Abe dismiss him.
Amid the opposition partiesf strong demands for Endofs resignation, an increasing number of government officials and ruling party members became concerned about the difficulties they will face in the extraordinary Diet session to be convened on September 10 with Endo clinging to the post.
At a press conference immediately after the cabinet reshuffle, Prime Minister Abe expressed his determination to take a firm stance on cabinet membersf corruptions. After Endofs scandal came to light, however, Abe failed to take the necessary initiatives in investigating the scandal, and merely stated that Endo should thoroughly explain the facts.
On the same day, Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Sakamoto Yukiko also decided to step down over her falsified political funds report that deliberately inflated the numbers.
Commenting on Endofs resignation, JCP Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi said that his resignation alone does not solve the issue. Pointing out that Endofs problem is related to the misuse of tax money and the administrationfs way of handling the matter, Ichida stressed that it is essential to thoroughly investigate the scandal and make clear Endofs political responsibility.
Ichida criticized the Abe cabinet for failing to put an end to scandals involving cabinet members and staff, and stated that the JCP will thoroughly reveal the extent of corruption and pursue the prime ministerfs responsibility for appointing them. - Akahata, September 3, 2007
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