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Former Japanese foreign minister resigns from Parliament
Tokyo, Aug 09: Former Japanese foreign minister Makiko Tanaka resigned from parliament today, in a surprise announcement that came two weeks after she gave testimony overallegations of misuse of public money.
Tokyo, Aug 09: Former Japanese foreign minister Makiko Tanaka resigned from parliament today, in a surprise announcement that came two weeks after she gave testimony over
allegations of misuse of public money.
Tanaka, a member of the lower house of Parliament, handed her letter of resignation to the speaker of the lower house, who later approved the decision, parliamentary official Kimihiko Ishizuka said. Phones at Tanaka`s office rang unanswered.
It wasn`t clear how Tanaka`s decision would affect public support for Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who has drawn fire in recent months from critics who say he is foot-dragging on reforms and who blame him for corruption scandals in his ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
Tanaka has been plagued recently by allegations that she misappropriated an undisclosed amount of public funds to pay staff who were not on her official payroll. The funds were intended for use only by official staff for lawmakers. She went before parliament last month and denied wrongdoing, but critics have said she has not fully cleared the doubts. She has not been charged.
Tanaka, the first woman to become Japan`s foreign minister, was the most popular member of Koizumi`s Cabinet when he swept to office in April last year promising economic and political reforms.
Bureau Report
Tanaka, a member of the lower house of Parliament, handed her letter of resignation to the speaker of the lower house, who later approved the decision, parliamentary official Kimihiko Ishizuka said. Phones at Tanaka`s office rang unanswered.
It wasn`t clear how Tanaka`s decision would affect public support for Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who has drawn fire in recent months from critics who say he is foot-dragging on reforms and who blame him for corruption scandals in his ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
Tanaka has been plagued recently by allegations that she misappropriated an undisclosed amount of public funds to pay staff who were not on her official payroll. The funds were intended for use only by official staff for lawmakers. She went before parliament last month and denied wrongdoing, but critics have said she has not fully cleared the doubts. She has not been charged.
Tanaka, the first woman to become Japan`s foreign minister, was the most popular member of Koizumi`s Cabinet when he swept to office in April last year promising economic and political reforms.
Bureau Report