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Japan ministers Yuko Obuchi and Midori Matsushima quit | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Japan's Justice Minister Midori Matsushima has resigned, hours after the resignation of Trade and Industry Minister Yuko Obuchi. | Japan's Justice Minister Midori Matsushima has resigned, hours after the resignation of Trade and Industry Minister Yuko Obuchi. |
Ms Matsushima had been accused by the opposition of violating election laws. | Ms Matsushima had been accused by the opposition of violating election laws. |
Ms Obuchi is alleged to have misused funds from her political support groups and other donations. | Ms Obuchi is alleged to have misused funds from her political support groups and other donations. |
Correspondents say the resignations are a major setback for PM Shinzo Abe, who wants to bring more women into the top levels of government. | |
Mr Abe said he took responsibility for having appointed both women, and that they would be replaced within a day. Both are members of his governing conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). | |
Ms Obuchi, 40, was one of five women appointed by Mr Abe in his cabinet reshuffle last month and was tipped by some as a future prime minister. | Ms Obuchi, 40, was one of five women appointed by Mr Abe in his cabinet reshuffle last month and was tipped by some as a future prime minister. |
But allegations emerged last week that her staff had misused thousands of dollars of campaign funds. | But allegations emerged last week that her staff had misused thousands of dollars of campaign funds. |
Ms Obuchi has not acknowledged personal wrongdoing, but at a televised press conference on Monday, she said she was resigning because "we cannot let economic policy and energy policy stagnate... because of my problems". | Ms Obuchi has not acknowledged personal wrongdoing, but at a televised press conference on Monday, she said she was resigning because "we cannot let economic policy and energy policy stagnate... because of my problems". |
"I take seriously the impact I have caused," she said. She also apologised for being unable to contribute to key goals set by Mr Abe, including economic recovery and "a society where women shine". | "I take seriously the impact I have caused," she said. She also apologised for being unable to contribute to key goals set by Mr Abe, including economic recovery and "a society where women shine". |
Criminal complaint | Criminal complaint |
Hours later Mr Abe announced that Ms Matsushima, 58, had also resigned. | Hours later Mr Abe announced that Ms Matsushima, 58, had also resigned. |
She had distributed paper fans carrying her image and policies at a festival in her constituency, said NHK. | She had distributed paper fans carrying her image and policies at a festival in her constituency, said NHK. |
The opposition Democratic Party filed a criminal complaint against her on Friday, and demanded her resignation, saying this was an apparent violation of election law and rules on usage of political funds. | The opposition Democratic Party filed a criminal complaint against her on Friday, and demanded her resignation, saying this was an apparent violation of election law and rules on usage of political funds. |
The BBC's Japan correspondent Rupert Wingfield-Hayes says that this is not the end of Mr Abe's problems concerning his new female ministers. | The BBC's Japan correspondent Rupert Wingfield-Hayes says that this is not the end of Mr Abe's problems concerning his new female ministers. |
Eriko Yamatani, minister in charge of the North Korean abduction issue, was shown in photographs with members of an ultra-nationalist group accused of hate speech against Japan's ethnic Korean community. | Eriko Yamatani, minister in charge of the North Korean abduction issue, was shown in photographs with members of an ultra-nationalist group accused of hate speech against Japan's ethnic Korean community. |
Mr Abe's first term as prime minister in 2006-2007 saw a string of scandals amongst his ministers, eventually leading to his own resignation for health reasons after just one year in office. | Mr Abe's first term as prime minister in 2006-2007 saw a string of scandals amongst his ministers, eventually leading to his own resignation for health reasons after just one year in office. |