Mr. Seiji Maehara's decision to step down as chief of the Democratic Party of Japan, and to take responsibility for a recent e-mail fiasco in the Diet, came suddenly but too late. He leaves the spotlighted position without living up to party members' hopes that he would energize their goals. His resignation Friday may further damage the party following its devastating defeat in the Sept. 11 general elections.
Infighting over the choice of a new leader could worsen the party's plight even more. The party is to choose a new leader April 7. It must do so in a smooth manner while presenting convincing policy measures that capture people's imagination and strengthen their confidence in the future.
Mr. Maehara told party executives that he is largely responsible for the hype surrounding the bogus e-mail, presented in the Diet by DPJ Lower House member Hisayasu Nagata in February, alleging that Livedoor Co. founder Takafumi Horie ordered 30 million yen transferred to the second son of Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Tsutomu Takebe. Along with Mr. Maehara, other members of the current DPJ leadership, including Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama, will also step down.