Japan PM, finance minister under fire over suspected cover-up of cronyism
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his close ally, Finance Minister Taro Aso, faced growing pressure on Monday over a suspected cover-up of a cronyism scandal that has dogged the premier for more than a year.
Copies of documents seen by Reuters showed that references to Abe, his wife and Aso were removed from finance ministry records of the discounted sale of state-owned land to a school operator with ties to Abe's wife, Akie.
Abe, now in his sixth year in office, has denied that he or his wife did favors for the school operator, Moritomo Gakuen, and has said he would resign if evidence was found that they had. Excised references seen by Reuters did not appear to show that Abe or his wife intervened directly in the deal.
Suspicion of a cover-up could slash Abe's ratings and dash his hopes for a third term as leader of his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Victory in the LDP September leadership vote would put him on track to become Japan's longest-serving premier. The doubts are also putting pressure on Aso to resign.
Moritomo Gakuen is the school at the center of the scandal.
Previously: Land Deal for Nationalist School Linked to Japanese Prime Minister Abe by Critics
Related: Japan's Liberal Democratic Party Wins Election, Could Revise Pacifist Constitution
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Captival on Wednesday March 14 2018, @02:51AM (3 children)
That's almost the exact same thing Bernie Sanders' wife is accused of. Yet for some reason that isn't even news at 80% of the media.
(Score: 4, Funny) by realDonaldTrump on Wednesday March 14 2018, @04:17AM (2 children)
Shinzo runs one of the world's greatest countries (have you seen their porn, it's amazing!). While Crazy Bernie runs nothing. He runs something, he runs his mouth. I love Bernie but he's not even a hasbeen. He's a NEVER WAS!!!!
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 14 2018, @04:56AM
He's kind of like you in a way, then. I'd never heard of you before you entered the race and suddenly your name was all over the media.
Hate to be the one to break it to you old chum, but outside of the third world states like New York or Alabama, you're kind of a nobody.
Enjoy the spotlight while it lasts, I guess?
(Score: 3, Insightful) by captain normal on Wednesday March 14 2018, @05:32AM
I guess you know quite a bit about cronyism, also nepotism. Are those words too big for you?
When life isn't going right, go left.