WORLD> Asia-Pacific
|
WORLD> Asia-Pacific
|
|
Aso poised to be next Japan PM
(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-09-03 06:51 Hawkish former foreign minister Taro Aso leads the race to become Japanese prime minister, analysts and media said Tuesday, after unpopular Yasuo Fukuda became the second leader to resign abruptly in less than a year. With a policy vacuum threatening an economy teetering on the brink of recession, 67-year-old Aso said he was a suitable candidate to govern the country. If he wins the leadership on his fourth attempt, the comic book fan and former Olympic sharpshooter will be Japan's 11th prime minister in 15 years.
"I think (Fukuda) felt he had work that was left undone, and he said he wanted it to be carried out," Aso told a news conference, ahead of a leadership vote in three weeks. "As someone who discussed these issues with him, including the economic package, I think I have the credentials to take that on," said the veteran lawmaker, currently LDP secretary-general. Fukuda, 72, had been struggling to cope with a divided parliament where opposition parties have the power to delay legislation, and his sudden exit raised questions about his conservative party's ability to cling to power or even hold together after ruling Japan for most of the past 53 years. He produced an economic package last week, with a promise of tax cuts and $16.5 billion in new spending this year to help ease the pain of high oil and food prices, but only saw his government's ratings slide further. Aso is seen as the LDP's best bet to rebuild voter support. However, some analysts note the same was said when he lost to Fukuda in the LDP's last leadership race last year, when previous prime minister Shinzo Abe also suddenly quit. The departure of Fukuda, a moderate conservative who favors close ties with Japan's Asian neighbors, does not automatically mean an early election as the LDP dominates parliament's lower house, which will vote on the leadership. However, the next prime minister might go to the polls ahead of a deadline of September next year to take advantage of any recovery in public support. A complete deadlock in parliament, where the opposition controls the upper house and can stall legislation, could also force the prime minister to call an election reluctantly. The ruling coalition is almost certain to lose seats, if not its majority, in an election but voters say they want a turn to pick their government. Agencies |
