Japan Press Weekly

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2015 February 18 - 24 [POLITICS]

Agriculture Minister resigns following money scandals

Agriculture Minister Nishikawa Koya on February 23 resigned after the revelation of a series of money scandals. The Japanese Communist Party called for a thorough investigation into the matter.

Prime Minister Abe Shinzo appointed Hayashi Yoshimasa as Nishikawa’s successor.

Nishikawa has been under fire in the Diet regarding his inappropriate handling of political funds. He allegedly used state subsidy money to purchase goods from his relatives’ companies. It is also reported that a Liberal Democratic Party’s local branch headed by Nishikawa accepted donations from companies receiving financial support from the central government, which the Political Funds Control Act prohibits.

After submitting his resignation, Nishikawa said to the press that he decided to step down in order to avoid causing a negative effect on Diet deliberations. He proclaimed his innocence, saying, “I have done nothing illegal.”

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Yamashita Yoshiki at a news conference held later on the day said that it is a matter of course that Nishikawa resign from the ministerial post. Yamashita stressed that Nishikawa’s resignation should not sweep under the rug his suspicious handling of the public funds and receiving of political donations and it is necessary to uncover the facts. He added that the Prime Minister’s responsibility for appointing Nishikawa should also be taken into consideration.

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