Japan PM to sack troublesome ministers
Japan: Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda plans to sack two
troublesome ministers in a cabinet reshuffle as he bids to clear the way
for tax increases, according to reports Monday. Noda has ordered all
members of his cabinet not to miss a meeting on Friday even if they have
to cancel their holiday plans, Japanese newspapers reported.
“The point is, I want all cabinet members to get together as soon as
possible to create a solid team and work as one” before a regular
session of parliament starts this month, Noda was quoted as saying
Sunday.
Asked if he made the comment with a cabinet reshuffle in mind, the
premier said: “I have said what I meant to say. Nothing more and nothing
less.” With his approval ratings dipping since he took office in
September, Noda is expected to fire gaffe-prone Defence Minister Yasuo
Ichikawa and Consumer Affairs Minister Kenji Yamaoka, who has given his
support to an alleged pyramid investment scheme.
In one slip, the defence chief described the rape of a 12-year-old
girl by three US servicemen in Okinawa as a “sexual orgy incident”,
angering islanders who are opposed to the huge US military presence
there.
In December the opposition-controlled upper house of parliament
demanded the sacking of the two ministers.
And opposition leaders have threatened to boycott parliament, which
is expected to start on January 23 or 24, if they remain in office. Noda
needs the help of the opposition to pass a package of tax and social
reform bills and see through his unpopular plan to raise consumer tax
from five percent to eight percent in early 2014 and 10 percent in late
2015.
In a weekend media poll of eligible voters by Kyodo news agency, 52.9
percent of 1,016 respondents expressed opposition to the tax increase
plan while 45.6 percent supported it.
Public support for Noda's government dipped to 35.7 percent from 44.6
percent last month, Kyodo said. The disapproval rating rose 10.2 points
to 50.5 percent, the highest since Noda's rise to power.
AFP |
