Japan's
justice minister has resigned weeks after taking office citing ill health, amid
a scandal over alleged ties to an organised crime group.
Keishu
Tanaka, 74, only assumed the post on 1 October. He was hospitalised on Friday
for chest pains. Calls for him to step down mounted amid questions over
political funding and his role in a gangster wedding. His resignation is
another setback for Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, whose poll figures are
plummeting. Mr Tanaka is the second
minister to step down in the year since he took office. In September 2011
Yoshio Hachiro, the newly-appointed trade minister, resigned after calling the
area around the tsunami-hit Fukushima nuclear plant a "town of
death".
'Matchmaker'
Japan's
top government spokesman, Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura, said Mr
Tanaka had stepped down due to ill health. "After having a health
examination, it was determined that with his symptoms it was necessary to rest.
And while it is regrettable, I have accepted the resignation," Mr Fujimura
said..
Mr
Tanaka had been justice minister for just over three weeks, following a cabinet
reshuffle by Mr Noda aimed at revitalising his cabinet in the face of poor poll
numbers. He has admitted he acted as a matchmaker - a ceremonial role - at a
gangster's wedding and attended a party thrown by a "yakuza" crime
group boss. But he said he was not aware
of either individual's yakuza links at the time of the event, which took place
30 years ago. He also admitted his office had accepted donations from a
foreigner-run company between 2006-2009 - banned under political funding law.
His office says it has returned the money. Earlier this week, approval ratings for the
Noda government slipped below 20% for the first time, Japanese media reported. The
prime minister has promised to call an election - due by the end of next year -
soon, but it is not clear yet when this will happen
BBC News
No comments:
Post a Comment