Osaka governor, hit by scandal, lack of backers, won't seek a third term

OSAKA — Abandoned by her major backers, Osaka Gov. Fusae Ohta announced Monday she will not run for a third term in next month's election. The decision ends her career as Japan's first female governor and throws open an election likely to have national repercussions.

"Given the current situation, I decided it was impossible to run," Ohta said at a news conference in the morning, where she also apologized to voters and thanked them for eight years of support.

Over the weekend, Ohta received word from the Liberal Democratic Party-New Komeito ruling bloc, as well as the coalition's main rival, the Democratic Party of Japan, that they would not support her due to her entanglement in a string of financial scandals.