Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama told administrative vice ministers Friday to stop holding regular press conferences, saying their superiors should carry out the task instead.
"It is natural in any private firm for top officials to make decisions and make press announcements on their own," said Hatoyama. But he left room for vice ministers to deal with reporters through other means, saying government members are obliged to help with news coverage if needed.
Since taking office Wednesday, Hatoyama has already abolished administrative vice ministers' meetings, which have long set the agenda for Cabinet meetings, but denied it was intended as an attack against bureaucrats.
"I don't want you to think it is an attack targeting bureaucrats. . . . It is the first step for the politicians to stand on their own and realize politics in line with the people's wishes," Hatoyama told the meeting, which was open to the press.
He also called on bureaucrats to "fully mobilize your brilliant minds" to help form a government that responds to the people's will.