Japan Press Weekly

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2011 March 2 - 8 [POLITICS]

Ichida: Foreign Minister’s resignation cannot be considered the end of the matter

On Foreign Minister Maehara Seiji’s resignation for receiving donations from a foreigner in violation of the Political Funds Control Law, Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi on March 6 commented that his resignation cannot be considered the end of the matter.

Ichida went on to say, “If the donation was received knowingly, the action will seriously question Maehara’s qualification not only as a cabinet minister but also as a Dietmember. It is impermissible for the Democratic Party of Japan to bury the issue with his resignation. Maehara should give a detailed account of the matter in the Diet.”

The Political Funds Control Law prohibits donations from foreigners or foreign corporations so that Japan’s politics will not come under foreign influence.

Maehara is the second person to resign as a minister under the Kan Naoto Cabinet, after the justice minister. The resignation of a key cabinet minister over a money scandal would deal a serious blow to the Kan cabinet and add more difficulty in maintaining the government.