Nakagawa said he would submit a note from a doctor about the medicine that he took during the trip. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
TOKYO - JAPAN'S premier Taro Aso Tuesday accepted the immediate resignation of Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa, who appeared to be drunk at a Group of Seven meeting last weekend, broadcasters said.
Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa had said earlier Tuesday that he would wait until after the parliament approves a supplementary budget to step down. But calls for an immediate resignation grew stronger as the day wore on.
TOKYO - JAPAN'S outgoing finance minister Shoichi
Nakagawa is an outspoken political heavyweight and close ally of the prime minister who has long been reputed to be fond of drinking.
Mr Nakagawa, who resigned on Tuesday for what appeared to be drunken behaviour at a meeting of the Group of Seven world powers in Rome at the weekend, admitted to sipping some wine with lunch but blamed cold medicine for his slurred words.
Mr Nakagawa has been under fire over allegations that he appeared to be drunk at a news conference following the G-7 finance ministers meeting in Rome last week, a scandal that has dealt a further blow to Prime Minister Taro Aso's already embattled government.
The announcement on Tuesday was a huge embarrassment for Mr Aso, who the day before had asked Mr Nakagawa to stay on. Economy Minister Kaoru Yosano will assume Mr Nakagawa's duties, Kyodo News agency reported.
'I apologise for causing such a big fuss,' Mr Nakagawa said.
He has said he took cold medicine, which, along with the jet lag, made him groggy.
His abrupt announcement was seen as an attempt at damage control, but some analysts said they expect the situation to get tougher for Mr Aso in the weeks ahead.
'The scandal was so humiliating that Nakagawa's resignation will not be enough,' said political analyst Minoru Morita. 'The opposition will now shift their target to Aso, pushing him deeper into the corner.'
Opposition lawmakers, meanwhile, lodged a censure motion against Mr Nakagawa and demanded he quit immediately.
'I don't understand why he has to wait until budget approval,' said Higashi Koshiishi, a leader of the main opposition group, the Democratic Party of Japan. 'And we will by all means question Prime Minister Aso's responsibility over (Nakagawa's) appointment.'
Pressure for Mr Nakagawa's resignation was growing within Mr Aso's Cabinet as well.
Along with a moribund economy and increasing joblessness, the scandal was the latest in a series of embarrassments that have plagued Mr Aso, who has been in office only since late September.
His support ratings fell into the single digits in a recent poll, increasing speculation his days might be numbered.
Elections must be held by the end of September, but can be called at any time.
Several polls suggest that the opposition has a good shot at winning if elections are held soon, although the Liberal Democrats have controlled the government for virtually all of the past 54 years. -- AP, AFP.
