Japan opposition submit no-confidence motions against PM Abe

Source: CCTV.com | 12-15-2006 14:28

In Japan, opposition parties have submitted two no-confidence motions against Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Cabinet and Foreign Minister Taro Aso.

The Democratic Party of Japan and three other opposition parties submitted the motions on Friday. One is an attempt to block the passage of the education reform bill that Shinzo Abe has set as one of his priorities.

When he took office in September, Abe pledged to revise a 1947 US-drafted law on the fundamental goals of education in a bid to re-inject patriotism and discipline into the nation's classrooms.

Meanwhile, the no confidence motion against Foreign Minister Taro Aso was over comments he made implying that there was no need to rule out debate over whether or not the country should have nuclear weapons. The topic is a touchy one in the only country ever to have suffered a nuclear attack.

However, neither motion is likely to pass the lower house, where Abe's ruling Liberal Democratic party has a wide majority.

 

Editor:Du Xiaodan