Japanese Prime Minister quits

Naruto Fox9 · 09-01-2008, 01:19 PM

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...-25837,00.html

Quote:

TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda last night announced his resignation, calling for a fresh start after a troubled year in power that saw bitter fighting with the opposition.

"Today, I have decided to resign. We need a new line-up to cope with a new session of parliament,'' Mr Fukuda told a hastily arranged news conference at 9.30pm (10.30pm AEDT).

Mr Fukuda did not immediately speak of new elections, opening the way for a new leadership election within the ruling party. General elections must be held by September next year.

The likely front-runner to take over the post is Taro Aso, a former foreign minister who is known for being both more charismatic and more conservative than the 72-year-old Mr Fukuda.

Mr Fukuda said he made the decision in light of the tense situation in parliament. The opposition Democratic Party won control of one house last year and has aggressively fought Mr Fukuda's agenda.

"The Democratic Party has tried to stall every bill so it has taken a long time to implement any policies. For the sake of the Japanese people, this should not be repeated,'' Mr Fukuda said.

Mr Fukuda's Liberal Democratic Party has been in power for all but 10 months since its creation in 1955. He did not have to call elections until September next year. The opposition has vowed to wrest political control in the next election.

Mr Fukuda took office nearly a year ago in hopes of reviving the LDP, but he faced an uproar for introducing a hugely unpopular medical coverage plan that raises costs for many elderly people.

The Prime Minister on Friday unveiled a 11.7-trillion-yen ($100 billion) stimulus package, although some economists doubted it would give a long-term boost to the economy.

A poll out earlier yesterday said that his cabinet's approval rating had slumped nine percentage points in the past month to 29 per cent, erasing most of the bounce he received from reshuffling his cabinet a month ago.

The poll by the Nikkei economic daily and TV Tokyo Corporation tipped Mr Aso as the most popular candidate to replace the Mr Fukuda. Some 26 per cent said Mr Aso would make the best leader, far more than those who backed Mr Fukuda or opposition leader Ichiro Ozawa.

Asked why they disapproved of the government, 59 percent of voters said it lacked leadership while nearly half cited "bad policies''.

But the survey also showed the main opposition Democratic Party has failed to win over voters.

Support for the ruling party remained flat at 37 per cent, while that for the opposition party slipped three points from early August to 30 per cent, the poll showed.

Spiegel · 09-01-2008, 02:39 PM

It was a good idea on his part to quite before things got uglier. If I had implented a medical coverage plan like that that screwed over senior citizens I'd have people on my ass trying to kill me. Why would he do something like that when he knows what the reaction of the Japanese people would be like.

UchihaTaijiya · 09-03-2008, 09:40 AM

Yeah, I agree. I don't know much about this, but I was wondering the same thing. Old folks generally need medicine... <.<;... the most. And from what the article says, looks like his other policies aren't much better.

09-01-2008, 02:39 PM	#2
Spiegel Pirate King Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Grand Line (New World) Age: 25 Posts: 4,898 Thanks: 1,068 Thanked 1,604 Times in 846 Posts	Re: Japanese Prime Minister quits It was a good idea on his part to quite before things got uglier. If I had implented a medical coverage plan like that that screwed over senior citizens I'd have people on my ass trying to kill me. Why would he do something like that when he knows what the reaction of the Japanese people would be like. __________________ "Inherited will, the destiny of the age, and the dreams of its people. These are things that will not be stopped. As long as people continue to pursue the meaning of freedom, these things will never cease to be!" -Gol D. Roger Ex-Kakashi87

09-03-2008, 09:40 AM	#3
UchihaTaijiya sublimis ab unda Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 2,777 Thanks: 7,387 Thanked 3,312 Times in 1,249 Posts	Re: Japanese Prime Minister quits Yeah, I agree. I don't know much about this, but I was wondering the same thing. Old folks generally need medicine... <.<;... the most. And from what the article says, looks like his other policies aren't much better. __________________ If the elephants have past lives yet are destined to always remember It's no wonder how they scream Like you and I they must have some temper And I am dreaming of them on the plains Dirtying up their beds Watching for some sign of rain to cool their hot heads And how dare that you send me that card when I'm doing all that I can do You are forcing me to remember when all I want is to just forget you If the tiger shall protect her young then tell me how did you slip by All my instincts have failed me for once I must have somehow slept the whole night And I am dreaming of them with their kill Tearing it all apart Blood dripping from their lips and teeth sinking into heart And how dare that you say you'll call When you know I need some peace of mind If you have to take sides with the animals Won't you do it with one who is kind And if the hawks in the trees need the dead If you're living you don't stand a chance For a time though you share the same bed There are only two ends to this dance You can flee with your wounds just in time or lie there as he feeds Watching yourself ripped to shreds and laughing as you bleed So for those of you falling in love keep it kind Keep it good Keep it right Throw yourself in the midst of danger but keep one eye open at night

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