武部農相、続投決まる | 英語のニュース | The Japan Times ST オンライン

News

Farm minister to stay despite BSE blunders

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi confirmed April 3 that he would retain Tsutomu Takebe in his Cabinet despite increasing calls for the agriculture minister to resign over last year's outbreak of mad cow disease.

"At a time when we are launching wide-ranging reforms for the agriculture ministry and food safety, why on earth should we replace Mr. Takebe, who is the man most aware of the problems and the kinds of reforms we need?" Koizumi said.

The debate over Takebe's fate reached new heights April 2 when a government panel released a report pinning much of the blame for the outbreak of mad cow disease, formally called bovine spongiform encephalopathy, on past ministry inaction.

The findings resulted in 16 senior officials being punished, including Takebe who will return six months of his salary.

The report also pointed to the need for an independent organization to take charge of food safety, to be set up in the next six months.

But the panel has also watered down criticism of Liberal Democratic Party politicians, contained in an early draft in March, who had been found to have improperly influenced farm ministry policies.

Shukan ST: April 12, 2002

●英字新聞社ジャパンタイムズによる英語学習サイト。英語のニュース、英語教材、TOEIC、リスニング、英語の発音、ことわざ、などのコンテンツを無料で提供。
	脚注を印刷吹き出し表示フレーム表示
News Farm minister to stay despite BSE blunders Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi confirmed April 3 that he would retain Tsutomu Takebe in his Cabinet despite increasing calls for the agriculture minister to resign over last year's outbreak of mad cow disease. "At a time when we are launching wide-ranging reforms for the agriculture ministry and food safety, why on earth should we replace Mr. Takebe, who is the man most aware of the problems and the kinds of reforms we need?" Koizumi said. The debate over Takebe's fate reached new heights April 2 when a government panel released a report pinning much of the blame for the outbreak of mad cow disease, formally called bovine spongiform encephalopathy, on past ministry inaction. The findings resulted in 16 senior officials being punished, including Takebe who will return six months of his salary. The report also pointed to the need for an independent organization to take charge of food safety, to be set up in the next six months. But the panel has also watered down criticism of Liberal Democratic Party politicians, contained in an early draft in March, who had been found to have improperly influenced farm ministry policies. Shukan ST: April 12, 2002 (C) All rights reserved