The communications ministry said it has replaced two bureaucrats and is considering reprimands following reports that its officials were treated to dinners by a son of the prime minister.
The eldest son of Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is in the spotlight after a local press report alleged Seigo Suga discussed satellite broadcasting during dinners with government officials.
Le premier ministre japonais fragilisé par les scandales à répétition lemonde.fr - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from lemonde.fr Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Feb 5, 2021
The Lower House began debating the fiscal 2021 budget late this week, but the focus has been on the mounting pressure on Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on issues ranging from a potential ethics violation involving his son to a sexist remark by the Tokyo Organising Committee chair.
In the Lower House Budget Committee, the main battleground between the administration and opposition parties, opposition lawmakers attempted to shake the prime minister with a series of attacks, but he kept his ground, even though he at times raised his voice.
Although the events unfolding this week are not directly tied to the prime minister himself, they could further inflame mistrust toward the administration which is already nearing its boiling point over Suga s coronavirus response.
By Reuters Staff
2 Min Read
FILE PHOTO: Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga speaks during a meeting of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection control headquarters at the prime minister s office in Tokyo, Japan January 22, 2021. Kazuhiro Nogi/Pool via REUTERS
TOKYO (Reuters) - A Japanese government ministry said on Thursday it was checking if any law had been broken after a magazine reported that Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s eldest son and fellow executives at a satellite broadcaster had wined and dined senior ministry officials.
Responding to a question in parliament about the report, Prime Minister Suga said: “No matter who was involved, I want the ministry to check facts firmly and make a response based on rules.”