Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama on Friday retracted a remark he made the previous evening, in which he expressed his hope that a lawmaker arrested over a political funds scandal would not be indicted.
Regarding Tomohiro Ishikawa, a Democratic Party of Japan House of Representatives member arrested on suspicion of violating the Political Funds Control Law in connection with a controversial land purchase by DPJ Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa's political fund management body, Hatoyama said Thursday evening, "I hope he isn't indicted".
Hatoyama retracted this statement at a lower house Budget Committee meeting Friday morning.
Rank-and-file ruling party lawmakers are becoming increasingly critical of Hatoyama, with many voicing discontent. Hatoyama has now repeatedly retracted or offered excuses for the comment, which can be interpreted as putting pressure on prosecutors and interfering with the probe.
At Friday's committee meeting, Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Toshimitsu Motegi pointed out the contradictions in Hatoyama's recent comments.
"He made an unprecedented remark for the head of the administration," Motegi said. "On one hand, he demands a neutral, fair investigation, but on the other, he says he hopes [Ishikawa] isn't charged. This is clearly a contradiction".
Hatoyama admitted in his response that his remarks had been inappropriate. "I expressed my feeling that I hoped the investigation would prove [Ishikawa's] innocence," he said. "I have no intention of interfering with the prosecutors. I'll retract my comment if it has caused any misunderstanding".
Speaking with reporters outside the Prime Minister's Office on Friday morning before the meeting, Hatoyama explained why he made the comment about the probe.
"I was asked a hypothetical question, and I simply said I'd prefer it if the hypothetical situation [in which Ishikawa is indicted] doesn't occur," he said. "Needless to say, I realize it's important to dispassionately follow the course of the investigation".
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DPJ frowns on statements
Hatoyama's flip-flopping statements have sent ripples through the DPJ, leaving rank-and-file party members frowning.
"The prime minister is the head of the administration, which has authority over public prosecutors," a freshman DPJ lower house member said at a Diet members' office building in Nagatacho, Tokyo, on Friday morning. "It's inevitable that his comments are interpreted as pressuring prosecutors".
Last Saturday--the day after Ishikawa's arrest--Ozawa declared he would confront the prosecutors, and Hatoyama backed the party heavyweight up by urging him to "battle" them.
Regarding this and Hatoyama's retraction of his remarks about the investigation, a third-term DPJ lower house member said: "It feels like he's gone and put his foot in it again. From his position of prime minister, there is no way he should be making such comments".
While Hatoyama retracted his comments Friday morning, some DPJ lawmakers were still calling Hatoyama's leadership into question.
"It's inevitable that he's being criticized over his weak sense of responsibility as a prime minister," a midranked DPJ lower house member said. "I hope he is aware he has to manage the crisis amid this scandal".
However, members of Hatoyama's Cabinet have remained tight-lipped. After expressing surprise over Hatoyama's comments, Mizuho Fukushima, state minister in charge of consumer affairs, told reporters: "I didn't know. I can't say anything until the facts have been confirmed".
The Yomiuri Shimbun
