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Japanese lawmaker quits LDP over extramarital affair scandal

Xinhua, April 21, 2017 Adjust font size:

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Friday accepted the resignation of lower house lawmaker Toshinao Nakagawa who quit the party after revelations he was involved in an extramarital affair.

The scandal-hit lawmaker resigned earlier this week from his position as Parliamentary Vice Economy, Trade and Industry Minister following demands from the main opposition Democratic Party for him to do so to account for his involvement in the scandal.

The LDP ethics committee accepted Nakagawa's offer to leave the party voluntarily after he made his involvement in the affair clear in a Facebook post.

In the post written on Thursday, Nakagawa apologized for his wrongdoing, stating that he had shown his constituents a "lack of virtue" and that now intends to "spend the rest of my life redeeming myself to my wife and family."

Nakagawa, 46, is the son of Hidenao Nakagawa, a veteran LDP member and former chief cabinet secretary.

He initially served as his father's secretary and was elected to the lower house in 2012 from a constituency in Hiroshima.

LDP Secretary General Toshihiro Nikai lambasted Nakagawa, saying in a press briefing that his behavior was deplorable and that public figures elected by voters have a duty to act accordingly. Enditem