ニュース 2014/10/20 Kaieda states: “It is totally unprecedented for two ministers to resign in one day. The Prime Minister’s responsibility for appointing them is at issue.” On October 20, DPJ President Banri Kaieda held his regular press conference at party headquarters, commenting on issues such as the resignations of Cabinet ministers Yuko Obuchi and Midori Matsushima, and the promotion of cooperation between the various opposition parties. Kaieda commented on the ministerial resignations, pointing out: ‘It is totally unprecedented for two ministers to resign in one day. The Prime Minister’s responsibility for making appointments is once more at issue.” He added, “I watched the press conference at which Minister of Justice Matsushima resigned, but she made no reference to the illegality she committed in handing out paper fans” to constituents, and called on Matsushima to fulfill her accountability obligations to the Diet. Kaieda also mentioned that DPJ Diet member Takeshi Shina had filed charges against Matsushima at the Tokyo District Court early that same day, and said, “In addition to her responsibility as a politician, she also bears legal responsibility. We expect the prosecutor’s office to undertake impartial investigations into the case.” Kaieda reported that a meeting of the secretaries general and equivalent of the opposition parties held that same day had confirmed their intention of thoroughly pursuing in the Diet both the Prime Minister’s responsibility for making the appointments and other Cabinet Ministers’ accountability obligations. He explained, “We will promote further cooperation between the opposition parties, and will continue to thoroughly debate the integrity of government ministers and scrutinize the Abe administration’s economic policies.” Asked for his views on the way in which money politics allegations keep emerging against various Cabinet members in the wake of the recent reshuffle, Kaieda responded, “With the current state of a strong ruling party majority and a fragmented and weak opposition, the government did not carry out the necessary preliminary checks on the appropriateness of these appointments. It looks like there was arrogance and carelessness. In addition to the two Ministers who resigned today, there are doubts about the suitability of Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Nishikawa, and Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Shiozaki. We will continue to pursue this matter in the Diet.”