TOKYO • Prime Minister Shinzo Abe yesterday vowed to press on with his controversial move to amend Japan’s pacifist Constitution, undeterred by a political scandal that has dented his popularity..
TOKYO • Prime Minister Shinzo Abe yesterday vowed to press on with his controversial move to amend Japan’s pacifist Constitution, undeterred by a political scandal that has dented his popularity.
Mr Abe’s political capital is dwindling owing to a widening scandal over the cut-price sale of government land to one of his supporters, with the opposition suggesting that his wife may have played a role.
The scandal worsened when Finance Ministry bureaucrats admitted altering official records of the sales, erasing references to Mr Abe and his wife as well as other political figures.
« I will thoroughly investigate and show the whole picture of what happened, » Mr Abe told the annual meeting of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
« And I will fulfil my duty by rebuilding the (government) organisation so that this will not happen again, » he said, reiterating his resolve to stay in power.
Mr Abe has denied any involvement by him or his wife in the case but protesters have staged rallies across the nation.
His close ally, Finance Minister Taro Aso, has also denied involvement in the alterations made by ministry officials.
