日本财务大臣中川昭一由于被指在一次记者会上酒醉失态而辞职，这对不受民众欢迎的麻生太郎首相的政府是一个打击。中川昭一在内阁成员批评其行为，反对派议员提出谴责他的动议后于星期二递交辞呈。
中川昭一在罗马出席7国集团工业化国家会议期间，在上星期六的记者会上显得昏昏欲睡，而且在讲话时口齿不清。他承认会前喝了葡萄酒，但否认喝醉，并说由于服用感冒药和时差而感到疲惫。
麻生太郎首相接受了这位亲密盟友的辞呈，并任命经济财政大臣与谢野馨兼任财务大臣。
麻生太郎由于一系列失言和经济衰退不断加重而受到批评，一些民调显示他的民众支持率已经降到10%以下。
Japan’s finance minister has quit over allegations he was drunk at a news conference, dealing a blow to the unpopular government of Prime Minister Taro Aso. Shoichi Nakagawa submitted his resignation Tuesday after fellow Cabinet members criticized his behavior and opposition lawmakers filed a censure motion against him.
Nakagawa appeared drowsy and slurred his speech during Saturday’s news conference in Rome, where he attended a Group of Seven industrialized nations meeting. He admitted sipping wine before the briefing but denied being drunk and said cold medicine and jet lag made him tired.
Japanese Prime Minister Aso accepted the resignation of his close ally and asked Economics Minister Kaoru Yosano to assume the additional role of finance minister.
Mr. Aso’s public approval has dropped to single digits in some surveys as he faces criticism for a series of gaffes and a worsening economic recession.