Japan trade minister resigns over claims she used political funds to buy votes, make-up

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http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/10/japan-trade-minister-resigns-over-claims-she-used-political-funds-to-buy-votes-make-up/



Yuko Obuchi, newly appointed minister of trade and economy, speaks during a press conference at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo

Japan trade minister resigns over claims she used political funds to buy votes, make-up
Agence France-Presse
19 Oct 2014 at 22:48 ET

Japan’s high-profile and telegenic industry minister on Monday resigned over claims she misused political funds, including to buy both votes and make-up, dealing a blow to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s gender reform drive.

Yuko Obuchi told a press conference carried live on multiple television channels that parliamentary business had been stalled because of questions over her spending.

“It is not permissible for me as Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry to have economy and energy policies stalled because of my own problems,” she said.

“I will resign and focus on probing what has been called into question,” she reporters after a 30-minute meeting with Abe.