Japan Press Weekly

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2008 October 22 - 28 [POLITICS]

JCP chair questions prime minister’s moral standards

At news conference on October 23, asked by reporters to comment on Prime Minister Aso Taro’s frequent visits to luxurious restaurants and members-only bars, Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo said, “It is unacceptable behavior.”

Shii pointed out that the prime minister is behaving like this at a time when government policies are forcing young people to work as “disposable labor,” when the elderly are experiencing hardships caused by cutbacks in social services, including the introduction of a discriminatory health insurance system for the elderly aged 75 and over, and when farmers and small- and medium sized businesses are suffering from financial difficulties.

Shii also said, “When the government is forcing the public to endure financial hardships, the government leader should consider behaving in a morally moderate manner. Prime Minister Aso’s behavior is beyond moderation. His behavior reveals that he is not concerned about ordinary people’s difficulties.”