Japan Press Weekly

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2011 February 2 - 8 [POLITICS]

DPJ mired in Ozawa’s scandal

The Democratic Party of Japan is now bogged down in a problem regarding how to treat former DPJ president Ozawa Ichiro who was recently indicted on a charge of violation of the Political Funds Control Law.

DPJ executive members on February 3 held a meeting in the Diet building to discuss whether the DPJ should take disciplinary action against Ozawa. In the meeting, based on the party’s past disciplinary actions, the executive members argued with each other. However, they postponed making a decision because some executive members still supportive of Ozawa protested.

After the meeting, DPJ Secretary General Okada Katsuya said to reporters, “I’m sure that we will not fail to reach a decision.” However, if the executive members decide to take severe action against Ozawa, it will surely bring about a sharp reaction from pro-Ozawa DPJ Dietmembers.

Under the situation where opposition parties control the House of Councilors, the ruling block needs to secure a two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives because the approval by two-thirds of the House is required for the enactment of FY2011 national budget-related bills if these are voted down in the Upper House. If DPJ Dietmembers who support Ozawa refuse to follow the party line, the DPJ will be unable to exercise a “two-thirds majority” in the Lower House.

Meanwhile, regarding summoning Ozawa as a sworn witness before the Diet, Prime Minister Kan Naoto is taking the position of leaving the decision to Ozawa.

PM Kan at a Lower House Budget Committee meeting begun on February 1 said, “Whether to provide sworn testimony in the Diet is an issue that politicians themselves have to decide on their own responsibility.”

An opinion poll released by Yomiuri Shimbun on February 3 showed that 85% of respondents said that Ozawa should give full information about his money-for-politics scandals and 84% answered that the DPJ’s response is inappropriate.