A Japanese minister resigned for sending money and flowers to the family of a voter.
(Baonghean) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on October 25 that he had accepted the resignation of Minister Isshu Sugawara related to allegations of violating election laws.
Japan's Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Isshu Sugawara resigned on October 25 under pressure from rival parties after media reports said his office sent condolence money and gifts to supporters in violation of Japan's election law.
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| Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Isshu Sugawara has resigned over a gift-giving scandal. Photo: CNN |
Sugawara's sudden resignation is seen as a setback for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who gave him the ministerial post just over a month ago in a cabinet reshuffle.
Opposition parties have been pressuring Mr Sugawara to resign if the allegations are true. Mr Abe has reportedly appointed Hiroshi Kajiyama, a former minister in charge of governance reform, to replace Mr Sugawara as Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.
Sugawara, 57, was appointed to take charge of Japan's trade and industrial policies at a time of escalating bilateral tensions between Japan and South Korea, stemming from Tokyo's tightening of export controls on Seoul.
His ministerial term was cut short after the weekly magazine Shukan Bunshun reported on October 24 that in mid-October, Sugawara's secretary sent a condolence payment of 20,000 yen ($185) to the family of a supporter in his Tokyo constituency.
His office also sent flowers to the families of several supporters this year, according to the magazine. He has also been accused of giving expensive melons and crabs to local supporters. Meanwhile, Japanese election law prohibits politicians from giving gifts or money to the families of voters in their constituencies.
Mr. Sugawara said at a regular press conference after a cabinet meeting the same day that he was still confirming whether he had violated election laws. However, he decided to resign because he did not want his scandal to affect the meetings of the Japanese Parliament.
