Speculation swirled yesterday that Japan’s elderly finance minister could soon step down because of poor health.
Japanese Finance Minister Hirohisa Fujii, who checked into a hospital on Dec. 28 for rest and health checks, told reporters he expected a final judgment from doctors in the next day or two. But he declined to say if he was planning to step down.
“I will respect the decision of the doctors,” he said after a Cabinet meeting yesterday.
The Japanese press reported that he had discussed his health — and whether he should continue at his post — with Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama earlier in the day.
Fujii, who has a history of high blood pressure and at 77 is the oldest member of Hatoyama’s Cabinet, spent several tough weeks late last year churning out a record ¥92.29 billion (US$1 trillion) budget.
Hatoyama has said passing the budget is his top priority this year. It cuts spending on public works but includes large expenditures on social programs like child support and making tuition at public high schools free.
Investors said Fujii’s health wouldn’t have a big effect on markets or currency. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average rose 0.3 percent yesterday.
Fujii postponed his retirement from politics after the Democratic Party of Japan ended the Liberal Democrats’ longtime grip on power in national elections last year.
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