Ichida criticizes DPJ for its inability to come clean and make attempt to end party corruption

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Ichida criticizes DPJ for its inability to come clean and make attempt to end party corruption

Democratic Party of Japan members of parliament held their general meeting on May 16 and elected Hatoyama Yukio, DPJ secretary general, to replace Ozawa Ichiro as the president of the party.

The election was held to fill the vacancy left by Ozawa, who announced his resignation as DPJ president in the face of growing public criticism of his alleged involvement in accepting illegal political funds from a construction firm.

At a news conference after the DPJ lawmakers' assembly, Hatoyama said, "It is true that Ozawa has not told everything (about the allegation of accepting illegal political funds)." But he stopped short of stating that the new leadership will make an effort to fulfill its duty to make self-criticism and establish the truth."

Hatoyama even expressed his intention to ask Ozawa to assume a key position in the new party leadership. "I'd like him to be in an important position," he said.

Later in the day, Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi said to reporters as follows:

"The DPJ held its presidential election following the resignation of DPJ President Ozawa Ichiro, whose secretary was arrested on charges of accepting illegal donations from Nishimatsu Construction Co. However, two DPJ presidential election candidates, Hatoyama and Okada Katsuya, mentioned nothing about the Nishimatsu scandal. It surprised me that the DPJ's ability to come clean about the allegation and overcome it by breaking away from money politics does not work at all.

The DPJ has changed its leader but has not broken away from its reluctance to drastically transform the present government policy that is pro-big business and subservient to the U.S. This DPJ attitude does not respond to the people's call for a break with the Liberal Democratic and Komei parties' politics."

- Akahata, May 17, 2009