'Drunk' Japan minister to resign
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- unimatrix0
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Japan's finance minister has said he will step down, following claims that he was drunk at a recent G7 meeting.
Shoichi Nakagawa said he would resign after the government's budget is passed by the lower house of parliament.
He earlier apologised for his behaviour at last weekend's news conference in Rome but blamed cold remedies for a slurred performance there.
He said he had not drunk more than a sip of alcohol before facing the media in the Italian capital.
The news conference followed a meeting of finance ministers focussing on the current world economic crisis.
Footage showed Mr Nakagawa slurring his speech and closing his eyes repeatedly as if he was dozing off.
At one point, he mistook a question aimed at the governor of the Bank of Japan as one intended for him.
"It's embarrassing," said Democratic Party Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama. "This has sent a message to the whole world. He's damaged the national interest."
He explained that he had sipped wine at a luncheon toast on the day of the news conference, but had not consumed an entire glass.
He said he had taken too much medicine, including cold remedy, and that had made him drowsy.
Mr Nakagawa has denied reports - including the view of a former prime minister - that he is a regular drinker.
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Human, all too human.
Shoichi Nakagawa said he would resign after the government's budget is passed by the lower house of parliament.
He earlier apologised for his behaviour at last weekend's news conference in Rome but blamed cold remedies for a slurred performance there.
He said he had not drunk more than a sip of alcohol before facing the media in the Italian capital.
The news conference followed a meeting of finance ministers focussing on the current world economic crisis.
Footage showed Mr Nakagawa slurring his speech and closing his eyes repeatedly as if he was dozing off.
At one point, he mistook a question aimed at the governor of the Bank of Japan as one intended for him.
"It's embarrassing," said Democratic Party Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama. "This has sent a message to the whole world. He's damaged the national interest."
He explained that he had sipped wine at a luncheon toast on the day of the news conference, but had not consumed an entire glass.
He said he had taken too much medicine, including cold remedy, and that had made him drowsy.
Mr Nakagawa has denied reports - including the view of a former prime minister - that he is a regular drinker.
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Human, all too human.
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- News, News and Politics, Politics, Finance, 7 more
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squiggysmom
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If I was the Minister of Finance for Japan, I'd be doing a lot of drinking, too.
- 2 years ago
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squiggysmom
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SHAWN_RITTIMAN
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Saki it to ya!
- 2 years ago
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SHAWN_RITTIMAN
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Vikingblood
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" 'Tis so much to be a king that one is only so by being so."
- 2 years ago
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Vikingblood
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mattbrawn
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I'm not sure what 'cold remedies' he had been taking, but hell I wanna get me some.
In other Japan news, their economy is now officially the worst it's been since the end of WWII. Ouch.
- 2 years ago
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mattbrawn
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