Japan's PM eyes economic restoration before choosing polls time
Thursday, 9 October 2008
Md. Masum Billah
JAPAN got a new Prime Minster on September 4. Taro Aso is the third Japanese Prime Minster in one year. An outspoken nationalist, Aso said he wants to put priority to bolster Japan's faltering economy as the lower house polls must be held by September 2009. Flamboyant and conservative, Aso took charge as the Japan's new Prime Minster pledging to work to build a cheerful nation, by reviving an economy, now in the doldrums. He replaced Yasuo Fukuda, a mild centrist whose ratings dived after he raised medical costs for the elderly.
Aso won Liberal Democratic Party's overwhelming majority support. Comic book-loving, he started the job with an unusually sobre tone. He said he would push for emergency measures to revive. Japan, Asian's second largest economy, contracted in the last quarter. He has lined up his cabinet with like-minded conservatives to help revive the economy and win the upcoming elections. "To make Japan a cheerful and strong nation - that is my mission. I fully feel the heavy responsibility of being the Prime Minister about the economy", Aso said after assuming the office.
Japan provides fuel and other logistical support to the US-led forces operating in Afghanistan. Japan's opposition, which controls the upper house of parliament, forced temporary halt last year to the operation arguing that the officially pacifist country should not take part in American wars. The naval mission is set to expire in January. It could generate more controversies as Aso is widely expected to call early elections in the next two months. His predecessor Yasuo Fududa agreed to end a military mission, flying goods and personnel into Iraq, as another showdown loomed with the opposition. Japan was forced to renounce the right to wage war after its defeat in World War II.
Analysts expect Taro Aso to call a general election as early as late this month in a bid to hold off gains by the rising opposition which has pounded away at the LDP's traditional strongholds in the countryside.
Political Science Professor at Keio University Yasumori Soni said. "But if he waits, things are not going to improve. They will just get worse. He will probably try to do some skillful performance and go ahead with a snap election but the question is, can they win?"
Aso, 68, scored much higher in a one-on-one comparison with Democratic Party Leader Ichiro Ozawa, rating 53.9 per cent to opposition chief 29.4 per cent. But voters were evenly split over which party they planned to cast their ballots for, at the next election, with 34.89 per cent opting for Aso's Liberal Democratic Party and 34.8 per cent picking the Democrats.
Liberal Democratic Party has been in power for all but ten months since 1955 but Aso will be its fourth prime minister in the past two years as the party struggles over a raft of scandals and more recently a faltering economy. The new Japanese Prime Minister said his first priority would be to stimulate into the economy, teetering on the brink of recession.
In a bid to ensure party unity, he kept in place Fiscal and Economic Policy Minster Kaoru Yosano who had challenged him for the top job, arguing that Aso's economic policies were irresponsible. Another rival Shigeru Ishiba, was made farm minister , a position that has frequently been hit by scandal . Ishiba survived resignation calls as he managed crises as Fukuda's defense minister.
The writer is a senior manager, Brac Education Programme, PACE. He can be reached at email: mmbillah2000@yahoo.com
JAPAN got a new Prime Minster on September 4. Taro Aso is the third Japanese Prime Minster in one year. An outspoken nationalist, Aso said he wants to put priority to bolster Japan's faltering economy as the lower house polls must be held by September 2009. Flamboyant and conservative, Aso took charge as the Japan's new Prime Minster pledging to work to build a cheerful nation, by reviving an economy, now in the doldrums. He replaced Yasuo Fukuda, a mild centrist whose ratings dived after he raised medical costs for the elderly.
Aso won Liberal Democratic Party's overwhelming majority support. Comic book-loving, he started the job with an unusually sobre tone. He said he would push for emergency measures to revive. Japan, Asian's second largest economy, contracted in the last quarter. He has lined up his cabinet with like-minded conservatives to help revive the economy and win the upcoming elections. "To make Japan a cheerful and strong nation - that is my mission. I fully feel the heavy responsibility of being the Prime Minister about the economy", Aso said after assuming the office.
Japan provides fuel and other logistical support to the US-led forces operating in Afghanistan. Japan's opposition, which controls the upper house of parliament, forced temporary halt last year to the operation arguing that the officially pacifist country should not take part in American wars. The naval mission is set to expire in January. It could generate more controversies as Aso is widely expected to call early elections in the next two months. His predecessor Yasuo Fududa agreed to end a military mission, flying goods and personnel into Iraq, as another showdown loomed with the opposition. Japan was forced to renounce the right to wage war after its defeat in World War II.
Analysts expect Taro Aso to call a general election as early as late this month in a bid to hold off gains by the rising opposition which has pounded away at the LDP's traditional strongholds in the countryside.
Political Science Professor at Keio University Yasumori Soni said. "But if he waits, things are not going to improve. They will just get worse. He will probably try to do some skillful performance and go ahead with a snap election but the question is, can they win?"
Aso, 68, scored much higher in a one-on-one comparison with Democratic Party Leader Ichiro Ozawa, rating 53.9 per cent to opposition chief 29.4 per cent. But voters were evenly split over which party they planned to cast their ballots for, at the next election, with 34.89 per cent opting for Aso's Liberal Democratic Party and 34.8 per cent picking the Democrats.
Liberal Democratic Party has been in power for all but ten months since 1955 but Aso will be its fourth prime minister in the past two years as the party struggles over a raft of scandals and more recently a faltering economy. The new Japanese Prime Minister said his first priority would be to stimulate into the economy, teetering on the brink of recession.
In a bid to ensure party unity, he kept in place Fiscal and Economic Policy Minster Kaoru Yosano who had challenged him for the top job, arguing that Aso's economic policies were irresponsible. Another rival Shigeru Ishiba, was made farm minister , a position that has frequently been hit by scandal . Ishiba survived resignation calls as he managed crises as Fukuda's defense minister.
The writer is a senior manager, Brac Education Programme, PACE. He can be reached at email: mmbillah2000@yahoo.com