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Senior members of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan say the party will discuss reinstating the membership of former Secretary-General Ichiro Ozawa, following his acquittal last Thursday in a political funding scandal.
DPJ Secretary General Azuma Koshiishi told a news conference that the party council will most likely lift the suspension after Golden Week, TV Asahi reported.
Ozawa, 69, controls the largest DPJ faction with about 120 members. His membership was suspended in February 2011 after he was indicted for allegedly conspiring with aides to hide 400 million yen he lent to his political funding body in 2004 for a land deal.
Meanwhile, the opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has expressed its dissatisfaction with the outcome of Ozawa's trial. LDP Secretary General Nobuteru Ishihara has called on Ozawa to appear as a sworn witness in the Diet and explain the political funding scandal.
But Koshiishi said there is no need to summon Ozawa as he has been acquitted. He said that if any Diet members -- either in the DPJ or opposition parties -- have questions, they should ask Ozawa privately, TV Asahi reported.
© Japan Today
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paulinusa
"But Koshiishi said there is no need to summon Ozawa as he has been acquitted. He said that if any Diet members—either in the DPJ or opposition parties—have questions, they should ask Ozawa privately, TV Asahi reported."
Well that's convenient isn't it.
just-a-bigguy
Another chaotic decade of Japanese politics is iminemt as Mr Ozawa's emerges!
smithinjapan
Bring on the next few years of ineptitude, people!
Serrano
"Ozawa, 69"
Isn't he 9 years over the retirement age?
Ben Jack
They don't have much of a choice as he