Minister Shinzo Abe speaks during a press conference at the prime
minister’s official residence in Tokyo on April 7, 2020. Tomohiro
Ohsumi / POOL / AFP.
Japan’s former prime minister Shinzo Abe apologised to
lawmakers on Friday over a scandal involving payments for
supporters, a day after prosecutors said they would not indict him
in the case.
The country’s longest-serving prime minister has denied any
wrongdoing, but acknowledged that he had made statements to
parliament that were subsequently shown to be false.
“It turned out that I gave explanations that are contrary to the
facts,” Abe said at the lower house.
“Even though I was not aware of it, I feel a moral
responsibility. I deeply regret this and apologise to my fellow
lawmakers,” he added.
The case revolves around dinners organised on the eve of
government-sponsored cherry blossom viewing parties.
His office is alleged to have paid more than eight million yen
($76,000) for the dinners attended by supporters over five years
until 2019, failing to report the expenditures as required by
Japanese law.
Abe had previously denied that his political office had paid for
the dinners.
He was questioned by prosecutors over the case, but on Thursday
they said they would not take further action against him.
– ‘Why don’t you step down?’ –
Abe held a press conference on Thursday for the first time since he
resigned earlier this year over health reasons, apologising but
insisting he had no knowledge of the payments.
He said he “deeply, deeply” apologised for falsely claiming his
office had not paid.
“My political responsibility is very serious. I will do my
utmost to regain the people’s trust,” he said.
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In parliament, opposition lawmakers excoriated the former
leader.
“You have no intention of finding out the truth at all, and no
intention of explaining to the public,” said Takahiro Kuroiwa of
the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP).
“In a private firm, if the president makes false statements 100
times, then makes an excuse saying he or she was deceived by an
employee, is it forgiven?” added Kiyomi Tsujimoto, another CDP
lawmaker.
“Why don’t you step down as a lawmaker?” she demanded.
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Abe’s successor, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, has also
apologised for making statements about the payments that turned out
to be false.
While Suga is not expected to face prosecution, it comes at a
bad time for his cabinet, with his approval ratings sinking in part
over his handling of a third wave of coronavirus cases.
Abe weathered several scandals while in office, including over
the cherry blossom parties, a decades-old tradition intended to
honour the great and good for their achievements.
His government was accused of packing the event with supporters
and even inviting a member of Japan’s infamous Yakuza mafia.
When the opposition demanded a guest list be produced, it
emerged the list had been shredded.
While the government denied wrongdoing, Suga has said he will
not hold the event next year.
AFP
Read more https://swordpress.com.ng/2020/12/25/japan-ex-pm-abe-faces-lawmakers-on-scandal-avoids-prosecution/