Abe apologizes for recent scandals
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E-mail Xinhua, August 3, 2017
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe apologized on Thursday for the recent scandals implicating him and some of his close allies with a new cabinet in place, while opposition parties called for a deeper probe into the scandals, saying that a cabinet reshuffle won't erase the misconducts.
"I would like to express deep regret and apologize for creating strong distrust among the public over the scandals," Abe said at a press conference following the inauguration of his new cabinet.
Abe has been accused of using his influence to facilitate a government decision to approve the heavily-subsidized opening of a veterinary school at an university run by his friend.
To make the situation worse, Abe's close ally and protege Tomomi Inada stepped down last week as defense minister for being involved in covering up information about risks faced by Japanese peacekeeping troops in South Sudan.
Abe apologized for causing public distrust over the scandals and stressed that the new cabinet would put the economy first, saying that there were much to do.
As for his long-time goal of revising the pacifist constitution, Abe said that he wants to deepen the discussion on the subject inside his party and among the people but the debate "is not dependent on any schedule."
He also said nothing has been decided on whether to dissolve the lower house before its members' terms expire in December 2018.
Abe reshuffled his cabinet earlier in the day in a bid to restore public faith in a scandal-mired government, the fourth such attempt since he retook office in 2012.
Opposition party lawmakers, however, slammed the reshuffle as an attempt to cover up the scandals and called for a deeper probe into the issues.
Renho, the outgoing leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, pointed out that the cabinet reshuffle wouldn't make the scandals just disappear.
"Even if the ministers are changed, we will not end our pursuit of the allegations," she said.
She also demanded former defense minister Inada to speak at the parliament on the coverup scandal, saying that the new defense chief won't be able to explain the situation.
Seiji Mataichi, Secretary General of the Social Democratic Party, said that the prime minister should be held accountable for appointing problematic ministers.
Ichiro Matsui, head of Nippon Ishin no Kai, said that the "skeleton" of the cabinet is not changed and the reshuffle will cause little impact. To restore public trust, what the prime minister should do is to fulfill his duty of making sufficient explanations to the people, he said.
Ichiro Ozawa, coleader of the Liberal Party, said that there was no point in replacing the cabinet "since the top of the government is already corrupt," adding that what should be replaced is the prime minister.
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