Tokyo: Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said once more today that he hopes Ichiro Ozawa, secretary general of his Democratic Party of Japan, will continue to take the lead in campaigning for the House of Councillors election this summer despite Ozawa being embroiled in a funding scandal.
"Given what he has achieved until today, I certainly would like Secretary General Ozawa to lead (the campaigning)," Hatoyama told reporters in front of his official residence.
The comments came after Ozawa told a press conference Monday that he was questioned by prosecutors for a second time over allegations that his Rikuzankai fund management body used 400 million yen in off-the-books money to purchase land in Tokyo in October 2004.
Polls indicate that a majority of the public think that Ozawa should step down from the DPJ`s No. 2 post.
Ozawa, who is credited with leading the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) to victory in last year`s House of Representatives election, also suggested yesterday that he may
resign if he is ever criminally charged, although he added that he doubts it would actually happen as he has not taken any illegal funds.
"Prosecutors are currently investigating the case and it is most important to watch it calmly," Hatoyama said Tuesday.
Ozawa resigned from the post of DPJ president in May 2009 amid another funding scandal involving Nishimatsu Construction Co., and Hatoyama replaced him.
PTI
