TOKYO: Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe suffered a double setback yesterday with the resignations of two female cabinet ministers over claims they misused political funds, dealing a blow to his proclaimed gender reform drive.
Industry minister Yuko Obuchi and justice minister Midori Matsushima quit after days of allegations that they had misspent money in what opponents insisted was an attempt to buy votes.
Their loss reduces to three the number of women in the cabinet, after Abe’s widely-praised move in September to promote a record-tying five to his administration.
“I’m the person who appointed the two. As prime minister, I take responsibility for this and deeply apologise for this situation,” Abe told reporters. Yoichi Miyazawa, a lawmaker and nephew of former prime minister Kiichi Miyazawa, will replace Obuchi as industry minister, Abe said.
Yoko Kamikawa, a 61-year-old female politician and former state minister in charge of Japan’s declining birthrate, was named as the new justice minister.
The double resignations are the first significant problem for Abe since he swept to power in December 2012, ending years of fragile governments that swapped prime ministers on an annual basis.
While commentators generally agreed that this would not be the end of the hard-charging premier, who has moved to reinvigorate Japan’s lack lustre economy, they cautioned that he was now vulnerable. “This is Abe’s first major stumble,” said Tomoaki Iwai, professor of politics at Nihon University in Tokyo.
“His approval rate is likely to fall and Abe will be under pressure. If he repeats similar mistakes, it’s going to be a fatal blow to his administration.”
Obuchi, who carried on the dynasty of her father, a former prime minister, offered a fresh, youthful face on the front benches -- a place generally dominated by older men. AFP
