石破首相、農水相の続投明言　「任命権者の責任痛感」

　石破茂首相は２０日、「コメは買ったことがない」などと発言した江藤拓農林水産相について、「コメの価格高騰にきちんと答えを出すことが農水相の今の仕事。きちんと答えを出してもらいたい」と述べ、続投させる方針を明言した。首相官邸で記者団の質問に答えた。
　首相は「任命権者として責任を痛感している」と強調。「国民の理解が得られるかどうかは、発言を撤回し、誠心誠意おわびをすることだ」と説明した。
　これに関し、江藤氏は閣議後の記者会見で、政府備蓄米の放出について「最後まで私が責任を取るところまでやらせてもらいたい」と述べ、続投の意向を改めて示した。（2025/05/20-10:56）

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Tuesday declined to dismiss agriculture minister Taku Eto for his recent gaffe that he never bought rice.
   "The agriculture minister's current job is to give a solution to soaring rice prices, and I want him to do that," Ishiba told the press at the prime minister's office.
   He said he "keenly feels responsibility" as the one who appointed Eto as agriculture minister, expressing the view that what Eto must do to gain the public's understanding is withdrawing the remark and making a sincere apology.
   Eto himself showed his wish to stay in his post. At a press conference, the minister said he hopes he will be "allowed to work until I can fulfill my responsibility" to release government-stockpiled rice.
   Hiroshi Moriyama, secretary-general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, apologized to Makoto Nishida, secretary-general of its junior coalition partner, Komeito.