Govt Should Not Interfere with Nissan Affairs: Seko

November 27, 2018

Tokyo--The Japanese government has no plan to exert its influence over the appointment of new Nissan Motor Co. <7201> chairman to succeed Carlos Ghosn and ties among Nissan, Renault SA and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. <7211>, industry minister Hiroshige Seko stressed on Tuesday.

Pointing out that the government does not have any equity stake in Nissan or Mitsubishi Motors, Seko said at a press conference that it "should not interfere with individual companies' affairs."

Seko's remarks showed a stark contrast with those of his French counterpart, Bruno Le Maire.

In a French television program on Sunday, Le Maire said he hopes to see the principle of the head of Renault, in which the French government holds a 15 pct stake, leading the Nissan-Renault-Mitsubishi Motors alliance remain intact. He also said he and Seko confirmed the principle at their recent meeting.

At Tuesday's news conference, however, the Japanese minister denied giving an assurance that Ghosn's successor will be a Renault chief.

"I never make a promise to another country about the governance of Nissan," Seko said. Jiji Press