Opposition parties jointly recommend that Sakai resign

Four opposition parties on March 11 jointly submitted a draft resolution to the House of Representatives requesting that Dietmember Sakai Takanori, who was arrested for alleged violations in the Political Funds Control Law, step down.

The draft resolution was handed to Lower House Speaker Watanuki Tamisuke from Diet Policy Commission chairs of the Japanese Communist Party, the Democratic Party, the Liberal Party, and the Social Democratic Party.

The draft resolution accused Sakai, who received more than 120 million yen in donations from a temporary manpower company for five years and hid the money as secret funds, has increased public doubts about the legality political funds and public distrust of politics in general.

The draft resolution expressed regret that Sakai has tried to cover up the facts about his suspicious political funds collection and demanded that Sakai be conscious of his responsibility as a Dietmember, resign, apologize to the people, and accept his political and moral responsibilities. (end)