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2009/03/24
Ozawa holds press conference, states intention to continue as DPJ President
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On March 24, DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa held a press conference at party headquarters. He related his feelings regarding the decision by the prosecutors to press charges against his publicly-funded secretary over allegations that political donations connected to Nishimatsu Construction were made to Ozawa’s political fund management organisation “Rikusankai”. Ozawa revealed that he had decided to stay on as party President in order to achieve the major goals of a change of government and establishing a parliamentary democracy in Japan.
At the start of the press conference, Ozawa apologised for the trouble and worry he had caused the Japanese people and his fellow Diet members, and honestly revealed his feelings, saying, “Under circumstances which have given the impression that I myself have committed a crime, I have kept on going despite suffering mortification and humiliation.”
Ozawa added, “I have received a great deal of support from the public and from my fellow Diet members. I was encouraged by their words, telling me: ‘Don’t give up, keep on going.’”
Ozawa also referred to the reasons and evidence for the charges made against his secretary, saying, “It is a problem regarding entries made in political donation fund reports. It is my understanding that the meaning of the Political Funds Control Law is that recording facts about donations means recording the name of the entity that has made the donation just as it is. This difference of perception (with the prosecutors) has become the grounds for the indictment. There are no past examples of arrests, forcible investigations and indictments being made on such grounds. I am not satisfied with this whether it be from the point of view of the meaning of the Political Funds Control Law or from [the lack] of prior examples.”
Ozawa went on to explain that he had received the approval of the party executive and Standing Officers Council to continue as President, stating, “I explained to the Executive Committee and the Standing Officers Council that “I have spent nearly 40 years as a politician, but I have no attachment to the position of party President or the post of Prime Minister. The establishment of a parliamentary democracy has been my mission since leaving the LDP. [The next general election] is the last chance [to realise this], the last chance to obtain the understanding of the public, overthrow the LDP/Komeito administration that is founded on the bureaucratic system, and form a government that stands with the people. I believe that this is my final task as a politician. I would like to obtain your understanding and work together with you all toward these goals.” I received warm words of encouragement saying ‘Let’s do our best to work to achieve these important goals, this vital mission.’”
He added, “My strength may be inadequate, but I have made a new resolution to do my best and respond to the expectations of the DPJ and of the Japanese people.”
Ozawa was asked whether his continuing as President would have any influence on the forthcoming election. He responded, “My continuing as President was approved, but that is with the prerequisite that we can still win the general election. I cannot judge as of today whether my continuing will have a positive or negative effect. It depends on the reaction of the Japanese people. I intend to continue to respond to the situation from the sole perspective of [whether] a change of government [is possible].”
In response to a question about an outright ban on all donations from corporations and other organisations, Ozawa replied, “If we can come to a consensus on this within the DPJ, it will be one of the focal points of the general election.”
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