ニュース 2010/10/04 Okada comments that preliminary discussions with opposition parties will lead to speedy passing of supplementary budget On October 4, DPJ Secretary General Katsuya Okada held his regular press conference at party headquarters. He commented on news that an independent prosecution review committee had determined former DPJ Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa, whom prosecutors had previously decided not to indict on the grounds that they had insufficient proof, should be indicted over charges that he had broken the political fund control law, saying, “I am surprised and feel that it is a great pity.” At the same time, he said, “The decision has just been issued, and so we have not discussed this matter as a party” and added, “What is most important is that Mr. Ozawa himself expresses his point of view. I do not believe it would be appropriate for me to comment before that.” Okada also referred to a report made by Policy Research Committee Chair Koichiro Gemba in a meeting of the party executive, which concerned discussions undertaken that same day with five opposition parties on drafting a supplementary budget, saying, “it was reported that once a consensus had been reached within the party, a supplementary budget proposal would be drafted that reflected these discussions, and this was approved.” Okada was asked by reporters about the merit of engaging in preliminary discussions with the opposition parties regarding drafting a supplementary budget, to which he responded, “I believe that there are a variety of opinions within the opposition parties as well, and since listening to such opinions in advance as much as is possible, and including those suggestions that can be included in advance [in the legislation] will lead to speedy enactment of the legislation, I think that is desirable.”