Japan opposition parties slam gov t over press official s resignation, call her victim
March 2, 2021 (Mainichi Japan)
Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato speaks about the resignation of Cabinet Public Relations Secretary Makiko Yamada during the House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting on March 1, 2021. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is seen to the right. (Mainichi/Kan Takeuchi) TOKYO Japan s opposition camp is slamming Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga s government following the resignation of a Cabinet press official over lavish dinners she was treated to by a broadcasting company Suga s son works for. Critics referred to her as a victim of what they say is an iron-fisted approach within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) that has persisted since the previous administration of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and that this culture forced the senior bureaucrat to attend dinner functions.
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Makiko Yamada, Cabinet Public Relations Secretary, tendered her resignation from hospital after being admitted for ill health, the government said
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga apologised on Monday following the resignation of a key spokeswoman, who along with other senior bureaucrats were reprimanded for attending expensive dinners hosted by Suga s son.
Makiko Yamada, Cabinet Public Relations Secretary, tendered her resignation from hospital after being admitted for ill health, the government said.
Suga s administration and the 60-year-old spokeswoman faced public criticism after magazine Shukan Bunshun last month reported that Suga s eldest son, Seigo Suga, an executive at a company producing television programmes for satellite broadcaster, paid for expensive dinners for senior bureaucrats.
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Suga s press official quits over communications ministry scandal
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga s press official resigned Monday, a week after drawing fire for being treated to a lavish dinner while at the communications ministry by a broadcasting firm that employs the premier s eldest son.
Makiko Yamada. (Kyodo)
Cabinet Public Relations Secretary Makiko Yamada was hospitalized Sunday afternoon due to ill health requiring about two weeks of treatment and reported later that day she can no longer fulfill her duties, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said at a press conference.
Her abrupt departure is yet another blow to Suga, who has been struggling with falling public support after a series of scandals involving government officials and criticism over his response to the coronavirus pandemic.