Tokyo:
Japan's industry minister resigned on Monday over claims
she spent political donations on make-up and other items unconnected to
politics, reports said, in a blow to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Yuko
Obuchi, who had been tipped to potentially become the country's first
female prime minister, handed Abe her letter of resignation during a
30-minute meeting with the premier, public broadcaster NHK and Jiji
Press news agency said.
Abe accepted her resignation, according Jiji.
Obuchi
said she would hold a news conference soon. She would be the first
minister to resign since Abe took power in December 2012.
Obuchi
was a star minister when Abe reshuffled his cabinet in September,
becoming the country's first woman in charge of economy, trade and
industry -- a powerful portfolio that includes oversight of the energy
sector.
The clean-cut 40-year-old was the most prominent of a new wave of women promoted to leading Cabinet positions.
But
she is now facing claims that, over the five years to 2012, her
political funding body spent more than 10 million yen ($95,000) on
things unconnected to politics, including cosmetics and accessories at a
department store.
Her political group has also invited residents
in her electoral district in central Japan on bus tours to see theatre
performances in Tokyo at fees below actual costs -- a move opposition
lawmakers have called "vote-buying".
Story First Published: October 20, 2014 07:13 IST
