The Metropolitan Police Department last week arrested Ms. Kiyomi Tsujimoto, a former Lower House member of the Social Democratic Party, on suspicion of misappropriating salaries paid by the government to her two public secretaries in charge of policy affairs. The MPD also arrested those former secretaries as well as Ms. Masako Goto, former policy aide to SDP leader Ms. Takako Doi. Ms. Goto allegedly played a key role in working out the embezzlement scheme.

The arrests of Ms. Tsujimoto and Ms. Goto in particular are likely to have a profound impact on the party. The two women had been known as "Doi's children" because of their deep ties to the charismatic chairwoman. Ms. Tsujimoto was once tipped as a possible successor to Ms. Doi, while Ms. Goto wielded considerable influence as a top assistant to the party leader. Ms. Doi is already coming under pressure to step down.

For now, however, Ms. Doi has no intention of resigning. At a press conference over the weekend, she expressed "surprise and doubt" at the arrests of the four women, but said she will do her best to "restore confidence" in the party. But speculation about her resignation is likely to continue.