The Democratic Party of Japan is considering moving the new Consumer Affairs Agency if it wins Sunday's general election, as it tries to put into practice its pledge to save taxpayers money, DPJ sources said Thursday.
The party has begun discussing where to locate the agency to be inaugurated Tuesday, with an eye to reversing the Liberal Democratic Party's plan to house it in a private high-rise building with an annual rent of over ¥800 million.
The government selected the building, located next to the prime minister's office, saying there was no other practical choice to house the 200 public servants who will work there.
The DPJ has criticized the decision, calling it a "typical example" of wasting taxpayer money and noting the high rent is not appropriate for an agency whose purpose is to protect the interests of consumers.
DPJ officials will examine the cost of terminating the lease on the building before its expiration and consider a less costly site. They are also mulling personnel changes at the agency.
The establishment of the agency followed a series of food scandals involving defective and falsely labeled products, which spurred criticism that the government was putting manufacturers ahead of consumers.
The government had originally planned to open the agency around October but brought the plan forward because Prime Minister Taro Aso wanted it up and running during his administration.