Prime Minister Takaichi apologizes for resigning as Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries ``I accept responsibility for appointment'' - House of Councilors Budget Committee

The House of Councilors Budget Committee began a two-day general question-and-answer session on the morning of the 16th, with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and all cabinet members in attendance. At the outset, the prime minister apologized for Kazuo Yan's resignation as Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, saying, ``I am sorry, and I take my responsibility for appointing him very seriously.'' ``The Cabinet will work as one to provide answers to each important issue,'' he said, indicating his intention to do everything in his power to restore trust.

The prime minister explained, ``I was not protecting (Mr. Yan). I believed that he should be held accountable, and I urged him to do so.'' Kiyomi Tsujimoto of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan criticized the Prime Minister, saying, ``What has been exposed this time is the prime minister's lack of decisiveness. It was the prime minister's own self-protection,'' to which the prime minister responded, ``That was not my intention.''

Regarding Yan's alleged violation of the Public Offices Election Act, the prime minister said, ``Whether or not a specific act violates the Public Offices Election Act is a matter for the relevant authorities to determine based on the facts.I cannot prejudge whether something is illegal or legal.''