Perspectives

Ozawa under fire from public for not clarifying role in political funding scandal

Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Secretary-General Ichiro Ozawa is under fire from the public for not clarifying his role in the political funding scandal that continues to go unresolved.

Since Ozawa himself was not indicted, he could argue that allegations that he was involved in the case are totally without foundation, and that prosecutors went too far by attempting to form a case against him while news organizations have run false stories.

However, it is different in the eyes of the general public. False entries in his political fund management organization's fund reports are just part of the scandal. Ozawa is under fire from the public for failing to provide an explanation about the case except claiming that he broke no law, even though various problems have surfaced in the shadow of the scandal.

While looking down on media organizations, he takes advantage of them depending on the situation for news. As DPJ secretary-general, he does everything solely as part of a propaganda battle for the upcoming House of Councillors election. This obviously is an important part of the Ozawa problem.

While debate in the political world is intensifying on whether the consumption tax should be raised and how to balance the debt-ridden state budget, Ozawa has made demands that run counter to recent trends. He is urging that new expressways be built and that insider information on public works projects be leaked. Even though he has faced difficulties managing his huge political party, he is unwilling to appear on TV and talk about his struggles to the public.

Moreover, while the administration of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama places top priority on the Government Revitalization Unit's efforts to identify wasteful public projects, Ozawa is known for his involvement in the dubious handling of subsidies provided to political parties he had previously headed.

Billions of yen in government subsidies provided to the now defunct Japan Renewal Party and Liberal Party, which he formed amid political realignment since the 1990s, remain unaccounted for.

Ozawa cannot be held responsible for the case because of a legislation loophole. He has taken advantage of the loophole to refuse to provide an explanation on how the money was spent, which runs counter to the spirit of the Government Revitalization Unit's efforts to identify wasteful public projects. Taxpayers' money is used to finance both wasteful public projects and subsidies to political parties. One cannot help but wonder if a person with such a nerve is qualified to serve as secretary-general of a political party that advocates reform. This is also part of the Ozawa problem.

Ozawa announced at a news conference on May 10 following the Golden Week holiday period that the DPJ will field Olympic judo gold medalist Ryoko Tani in the upcoming Upper House race through the proportional representation system. The announcement came less than two weeks after the prosecution inquest panel voted to recommend that prosecutors indict Ozawa for violating the Law to Regulate Money Used for Political Activities over the political funding scandal.

At a news conference, Ozawa said three times that Tani has "made strenuous efforts with an unflagging spirit."

"She has trained herself, exercised her ingenuity and done her best to achieve her goal. Such a spirit is becoming rare in Japanese society. I empathize with her spirit," Ozawa said as if he were encouraging himself.

On Saturday, Ozawa submitted himself for questioning to prosecutors following the prosecution inquest committee's recommendation that he be indicted. He has also reportedly expressed his willingness to attend a session of the House of Representatives Deliberative Council on Political Ethics.

Ozawa's moves are widely viewed in the political world as his attempt to justify what he has done and forcibly break the political deadlock with Hatoyama amid rumors that Hatoyama and Ozawa may step down as the Upper House race is drawing near and the approval rating for the Hatoyama Cabinet is declining.

Ozawa, who defied the public when an opinion poll urged him to step down as DPJ secretary-general, told a news conference that the survey results were natural because it was conducted immediately after news organizations repeatedly said, "Ozawa is a shameful person."

Shortly after prosecutors announced on Feb. 8 that they had decided not to indict Ozawa over the political funding scandal, Ozawa said, "I'd like news organizations to keep reporting that Ozawa is innocent and conduct a follow-up investigation into the case." That would be just like him to say such a thing.

Public opinion is subtle, and even changeable in a way as Ozawa points out. How does the public view the Ozawa problem? Do they regard it simply as a case involving a violation of the Law to Regulate Money Used for Political Activities or a case that raises questions as to whether he is qualified to serve as secretary-general of a reformist party? The problem has entered a crucial phase. (By Takao Yamada, Expert Senior Writer)

Click here for the original Japanese story