Since 1975
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • Home
  • Japan
  • Abe Apologizes for Making False Diet Statements

Abe Apologizes for Making False Diet Statements

Speaking to lawmakers, Abe admitted he made false Diet statements about the parties while in office as prime minister. (AFP)
Speaking to lawmakers, Abe admitted he made false Diet statements about the parties while in office as prime minister. (AFP)
Short Url:
26 Dec 2020 02:12:27 GMT9
26 Dec 2020 02:12:27 GMT9

TOKYO: Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe apologized Friday for making false statements at the Diet, the country’s parliament, over funding for dinner parties involving his supporters.

Speaking to lawmakers, Abe admitted he made false Diet statements about the parties while in office as prime minister.

Abe had repeatedly said his side did not make payments to cover the costs of the parties. But public prosecutors filed a summary indictment against a secretary to him on Thursday for failing to include the payments in political funds reports.

“While it was done behind my back, I’m feeling my moral responsibility acutely,” Abe said of the payments.

“I ended up undermining the trust of the people in the Diet. I apologize sincerely and deeply to all Diet members,” Abe said. But he ruled out resigning as a lawmaker.

Opposition lawmakers complained that Abe’s explanations were not enough and demanded that he be summoned as a sworn witness before the Diet to give further explanations. But he told reporters after the meeting with lawmakers that he fulfilled his accountability.

On suggestions that Abe should quit the Diet, he told lawmakers, “I’ll make every effort to restore public confidence.”

Abe brushed aside criticism that the payments amount to giving monetary benefits to those attending the parties. Investigating authorities have concluded that his side had not acted wrongly, he said.

On a claim that Abe himself should have acted to see whether such payments were made, the former prime minister said he had trusted his secretaries completely. “If I had checked by myself, there would have been no problem,” Abe said, adding that he felt very ashamed of his carelessness.

JIJI Press

Most Popular
Recommended

return to top