Tokyo, Oct. 8 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Thursday that she has instructed agriculture minister Kazuo Yana to stay in office after reprimanding him for making inappropriate remarks about cutting road budgets for municipalities whose mayors did not support him in an election. During the day’s question sessions held at both chambers of the Diet, the country’s parliament, Takaichi said she “strongly reprimanded” Yana over the remarks about road construction funding cuts at municipalities whose leaders backed his rival in the February general election. The prime minister also said she told him to “work hard and make up for it through his work.” The opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan demanded Yana’s early resignation and indicated that it would not attend a session at the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Committee at the Senate, the upper chamber previously called the House of Councillors, to hear his policy speech. Masayo Tanabu, secretary-general of the CDP, said that the minister’s “attitude of trying to use the budgets for political retaliation or quid pro quo is absolutely unacceptable.” Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the opposition Democratic Party for the People, questioned the prime minister over her responsibility for appointing such a person as minister. The government “should conduct a comprehensive ministerial investigation to dispel concerns among the public,” he added. Speaking to reporters, Tamaki urged Yana to resign, saying, “I want him to absolutely stop causing trouble for the operation of the Diet.” While Takaichi admitted that she bears responsibility for appointments, she also said, “It’s important for a politician to provide their own explanations about their remarks.” She expressed her hopes that Yana will “straighten up and fulfill his duties.” Takaichi also reiterated that budget allocations should not be influenced by political support or disapproval. She rejected Tamaki’s calls for an investigation, saying that her government will work on appropriate budget allocations. Yana vowed to do his utmost as minister. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
