Japan PMs Ex-aide Charged over Funds Scandal
December 24, 2009 by Trend PK
Filed under World News
TOKYO: A former close aide to Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama was charged on Thursday over falsified political funding records, public broadcaster NHK said, in a development that threatens to erode support for the government.
The scandal, which has been public knowledge for months, is thought unlikely to force Hatoyama to resign but the indictment will be another headache for his government, which marked 100 days in office on Thursday and faces key decisions on next year’s budget and relocating a U.S. airbase.
A sharp slide in voter approval could endanger the premier’s grip on his post ahead of an upper house election in mid-2010, in which his Democratic Party wants to win an outright majority to reduce the clout of two tiny but vocal coalition partners.
Opinion polls have shown voters are unhappy with Hatoyama’s explanation of the scandal over misreported donations, but a majority have said he need not resign over the affair.
Jiji news agency said the Tokyo summary court would fine the former aide 300,000 yen ($3,280). Tokyo prosecutors’ office said it could not confirm the report.
The indictment is thought unlikely to cause a quick, sharp drop in Hatoyama’s voter support, although it has slipped to as low as just below 50 percent from initial highs over 70 percent as doubts grow over the premier’s leadership skills.
Media reports have said prosecutors will not charge Hatoyama himself.
“It coincides with the end of the honeymoon period, as Hatoyama’s government marks 100 days in office and in that sense, it is symbolic and fateful,” said Kyohei Morita, chief economist at Barclays Capital Japan, adding that he expected limited impact on financial markets.
“The (opposition) Liberal Democratic Party is too weak to force him to resign… and I don’t think Hatoyama will voluntarily step down either. But it may worsen voter support ahead of the upper house election,” he said.
Hatoyama said earlier in the day he would explain more about the funding scandal once prosecutors make decisions.
Japan PMs Ex-aide Charged over Funds Scandal was first posted on December 24, 2009 at 4:50 pm.
