Government revitalization minister Renho announced Tuesday a second round of screening in April of fiscal 2010 government projects to eliminate wasteful spending.
"Public interest in the way taxpayer money is used remains strong," the minister said at a lecture meeting. "The screening should be institutionalized so that the (waste-cutting) work continues even after a future change of government."
To this end, Renho, who goes by her given name, said she will work more closely with the Board of Audit of Japan and other government offices, including the Administrative Evaluation Bureau of the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry.
Regarding the ruling Democratic Party of Japan's election campaign pledges, she said, "We have to examine why we have failed to achieve certain things we promised to do and whether we will continue failing to achieve them in the future," suggesting the need to rethink the party platform.
On Tokyo's gubernatorial election in April, she denied she will run for the office, as rumored in certain circles, only stating she is convinced a DPJ politician promising administrative reform will become a candidate.