Japan Finance Minister in Fight for His Job
Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa was fighting for his political life Monday after footage aired around the world showed him slurring and unable to keep his eyes open during a weekend news conference in Rome.
Nakagawa's lapse, which he blamed on cough medicine, didn't do much to help his embattled mentor, Prime Minister Taro Aso, who has been himself scrambling to maintain a political balance amid abysmally low public support ratings and criticism over his negative comments about postal privatization.
Aso now must deal with a possible censure motion in the opposition-controlled Upper House against Nakagawa.
The finance minister faced a storm of criticism over what some said appeared to be drunken behavior on the sidelines of the Group of Seven meeting in the Italian capital.
"I took cold medication in the morning, at noon and at night," Nakagawa told reporters Monday. "(The medication) did not suit my condition, and I took more than I should have. I apologize."
The opposition Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) said Nakagawa should resign over his "shameful" behavior, in which he appeared to be nodding off in front of press cameras.
"(The footage) was sent all over the world," Secretary-General Yukio Hatoyama said. "His behavior was shameful and undermines the national interest. He should be dismissed immediately."
Minshuto executives met Monday and agreed to demand Nakagawa resign. If he fails to do so, Minshuto officials said, Aso should fire his finance minister.
However, Aso appeared to support his ally, advising Nakagawa later on Monday to stay on in his post and take better care of his health.
Minshuto executives will meet with their counterparts from other opposition parties to work out a possible censure motion against Nakagawa in the Upper House. A censure would also lead to a boycott by opposition parties of budget-related legislation because, as finance minister, Nakagawa would be in charge of those bills.
The resulting delay in Diet deliberations would hurt Aso's efforts to quickly pass economic stimulus legislation. It could force him to dismiss Nakagawa.
On Monday, Nakagawa and other government officials repeatedly denied he had been drinking beforehand.
At one point in the footage, Nakagawa reached for an empty glass in front of Bank of Japan Governor Masaaki Shirakawa, sitting next to him, instead of his own.
Nakagawa, known for his fondness for alcohol, denied being intoxicated.
"I drank (alcohol) the night before, but not before the news conference," he said.
Nakagawa's lapse, which he blamed on cough medicine, didn't do much to help his embattled mentor, Prime Minister Taro Aso, who has been himself scrambling to maintain a political balance amid abysmally low public support ratings and criticism over his negative comments about postal privatization.
Aso now must deal with a possible censure motion in the opposition-controlled Upper House against Nakagawa.
The finance minister faced a storm of criticism over what some said appeared to be drunken behavior on the sidelines of the Group of Seven meeting in the Italian capital.
"I took cold medication in the morning, at noon and at night," Nakagawa told reporters Monday. "(The medication) did not suit my condition, and I took more than I should have. I apologize."
The opposition Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) said Nakagawa should resign over his "shameful" behavior, in which he appeared to be nodding off in front of press cameras.
"(The footage) was sent all over the world," Secretary-General Yukio Hatoyama said. "His behavior was shameful and undermines the national interest. He should be dismissed immediately."
Minshuto executives met Monday and agreed to demand Nakagawa resign. If he fails to do so, Minshuto officials said, Aso should fire his finance minister.
However, Aso appeared to support his ally, advising Nakagawa later on Monday to stay on in his post and take better care of his health.
Minshuto executives will meet with their counterparts from other opposition parties to work out a possible censure motion against Nakagawa in the Upper House. A censure would also lead to a boycott by opposition parties of budget-related legislation because, as finance minister, Nakagawa would be in charge of those bills.
The resulting delay in Diet deliberations would hurt Aso's efforts to quickly pass economic stimulus legislation. It could force him to dismiss Nakagawa.
On Monday, Nakagawa and other government officials repeatedly denied he had been drinking beforehand.
At one point in the footage, Nakagawa reached for an empty glass in front of Bank of Japan Governor Masaaki Shirakawa, sitting next to him, instead of his own.
Nakagawa, known for his fondness for alcohol, denied being intoxicated.
"I drank (alcohol) the night before, but not before the news conference," he said.
On Monday, Nakagawa admitting sipping wine at a G-7 lunch before the news conference.
(source: IHT/Asahi: February 17,2009)
