Japan’s conservative government has been dealt a major blow with the resignation of two cabinet members in a single day, just as prime minister’s Shinzo Abe’s economic programme appears to be faltering.
Economy, trade and industry minister Yuko Obuchi, who was widely tipped to become Japan's first female prime minister, stepped down after her use of political funds came under media scrutiny.
Her decision followed claims that Ms Obuchi’s support staff had misused up to 26 million yen. Newspapers said some of the funds were used to buy baby goods, designer clothes and other items at shops run by her relatives
A few hours later Justice Minister Midori Matsushima announced she was quitting. Ms Matsushima has been under fire for distributing hundreds of paper fans to supporters at election rallies, violating Japan's election law.
The two were among a record-equaling five women put in the cabinet by Mr Abe last month as part of his plan to improve Japan’s poor record for female appointments. Mr Abe has repeatedly said he wants women to “shine” in his bid to revive Japan’s moribund economy.
Bowing deeply, Ms Obiuchi told journalists she wanted to avoid causing trouble to the government.
“I sincerely apologise that I couldn’t contribute at all to achieving economic revival, a society where women can shine, and other objectives as a member of the Abe cabinet,” she said.
The resignations complicate Mr Abe's ambitious agenda, which includes reversing years of economic drift and deflation and creating a more asserting military posture against rising China. Ms Obuchi was in charge of restarting the nation's nuclear reactors, which are all offline following the Fukushima disaster.
The loss of his two female ministers also dents the prime minister’s pledge to put women into 30 per cent of leadership positions by the end of the decade.
Mr Abe apologised for the scandals yesterday and promised “no delay” in replacing Ms Obuchi and Ms Matsushima. “As prime minister, I’m responsible for appointing the two ministers,” he said.
Mr Abe’s cabinet has enjoyed unusually high poll ratings since taking office in late 2012, despite his unpopular attempt to water down Japan’s long-term pacifism and increase government secrecy. But there have been recent warning signs of trouble ahead.
Japan’s economy declined far more steeply than expected in April-June, after the government’s decision to increase the nation’s sales tax. Experts are bracing for another set of poor economic figures in the third quarter.
Prices have risen under the government’s attempt to re-inflate the economy but wages have not kept pace, leaving many ordinary Japanese people feeling the pinch.
Support for the cabinet has fallen below 50 per cent for the first time, according to several recent polls.
The resignations appeared to have had no impact on Japan’s stock market - the main Nikkei index yesterday posted its biggest one-day gain since the spring.
