Divisions within the ruling Democratic Party of Japan deepened Monday as a lawmaker resigned in a show of defiance against Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's key bill to double the consumption tax to 10 percent.
Takatane Kiuchi, a DPJ freshman and follower of DPJ kingpin Ichiro Ozawa, said his boss advocated "waiting for a while," but in the end he decided he couldn't stay in a party that was pushing for a sales tax hike without taking other reforms to cut costs.
"Quitting the party is the only way for me to maintain my principles," Kiuchi told reporters after submitting his resignation.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.