Hatoyama resigns as Internal Affairs minister

Japan Press Weekly

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

Hatoyama resigns as Internal Affairs minister

Internal Affairs Minister Hatoyama Kunio resigned on June 12 after failing to hammer out differences with Prime Minister Aso Taro over whether Nishikawa Yoshifumi should continue to be in charge of the nation’s privatized postal services.

Hatoyama is the third Aso Cabinet minister to resign.

Hatoyama had made clear that he would not approve Nishikawa’s reappointment as president of Japan Post Holdings Co., wholly owned by the government, saying that Nishikawa was responsible for selling Japan Post’s assets without due transparency.

Even though the shareholders’ meeting approved Nishikawa’s reappointment, the Internal Affairs minister rejected it.

Prime Minister Aso tried to persuade Hatoyama to accept a compromise solution that Nishikawa should be reappointed on condition that he offers an apology to the Internal Affairs minister for the mismanagement.

Hatoyama rejected Aso’s offer and signed the letter of resignation.

Privatization must be reviewed

Japanese Communist Party Diet Policy Committee Chair Kokuta Keiji on the same day told reporters that Internal Affairs Minister Hatoyama’s resignation reveals the government intention to push ahead with the process of postal privatization even without Nishikawa being held responsible for attempting to sell off its “Kampo no Yado” resort inns at fire-sale discount to Orix Corporation and without questioning the cozy relations between Japan Post and Mitsui Sumitomo Bank.

“Both Prime Minister Aso and Internal Affairs Minister Hatoyama are advocates of the privatization of the postal services. The JCP will continue to demand a far-reaching review of the postal privatization scheme that has led to cutbacks in services to the public.” - Akahata, June 13, 2009