Abe Strikes Apologetic Tone as Cronyism Scandal Hits Support

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe struck an apologetic tone at a news conference Monday as he expressed his regret that a cronyism scandal had eaten into parliamentary debate on policy and triggered public mistrust in his government.

Abe said that the opposition’s focus on the question of his possible intervention in the government’s approval of a school run by one of his close associates took up too much time in the current parliament session. The premier said he would fulfill his responsibility to explain the issue.