Japan Press Weekly

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2017 May 17 - 23 TOP3 [POLITICS]

Shii: Abe should step down if Kake allegation found to be true

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on May 18 at a press conference commented on a news report that Prime Minister Abe Shinzo allegedly gave unfair advantage to his close friend’s school corporation, Kake Education Institute. Shii said that if the allegation is proved to be true, it would be a scandal serious enough to force Abe out of office.

According to the report based on an Education Ministry’s internal document, PM Abe pressured the ministry to approve the school corporation’s plan to establish a university faculty of veterinary science.

Shii said that the document seems highly credible although Abe has insisted that he has nothing to do with Kake’s veterinary school plan. Shii quoted Abe as saying in the Diet that if his alleged involvement in the plan is found to be true, he will accept responsibility for it. Shii went on to say that this remark should be interpreted as proclaiming that Abe will step down from his position if the allegation is confirmed.

Shii noted that the latest scandal is of huge importance as it could mean that the leader of the state exercised his power for his own purposes. Shii added that Abe has yet to give sufficient explanation about the preceding allegation that Abe unfairly favored the private school corporation Moritomo Gakuen.

Shii urged Abe to fully explain about the Kake issue at Diet meetings. The JCP chair demanded that the government disclose all related materials without delay and stressed the need to hold intensive deliberations on this issue in the budget committees of both Houses of the Diet with Abe attending.