Finance minister faces calls to quit
17-02-2009
Japanese Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa is seen during a meeting of the fiscal and financial committee at the lower house of parliament in Tokyo. REUTERS
Japan's finance minister is facing calls for him to resign amid claims he was drunk at a recent G7 meeting. Shoichi Nakagawa has apologised for his behaviour but blamed cold remedies for a slurred performance at a news conference in Rome at the weekend. He said he had not drunk more than a sip of alcohol before facing the media. Despite opposition calls for him to quit, Mr Nakagawa said Prime Minister Taro Aso had asked him to stay on in his job and be careful of his health.
