NIIGATA -- Former Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka submitted a letter of resignation Wednesday to the Liberal Democratic Party, which suspended her membership last year.
With party rules stating that a resignation request must be screened before being accepted, however, LDP Secretary General Shinzo Abe said the party would delay this process until after the Nov. 9 House of Representatives election, in which she is expected to run as an independent.
"The matter will be handled in accordance with party rules," Abe told reporters. Asked what impact Tanaka's move would have on the upcoming election, he said he did not know.