Japan: <PERSON> Slated to Be Next PM · Global Voices
In the Liberal Democratic Party election held on Sunday the 24th, <PERSON> defeated opponent <PERSON>, and is slated to become the next Prime Minister. He will follow <PERSON>, who resigned two weeks ago.
This marks an important change. <PERSON> is generally known as a moderate within the LDP, and thus his election is a change from the administrations of <PERSON> and his predecessor <PERSON>, who followed a generally conservative, market-oriented reform program. In the Upper House election held this July, the LDP was badly beaten by the opposition Democratic Party of Japan. Thus, it seems that a period of fluidity has arrived in Japanese politics.
Needless to say, the election of <PERSON> is a major topic for bloggers as for the media in general. One of the big issues that <PERSON> will deal with is the extension of the Anti-Terror Law, which permits Japan to participate in the US “War against Terror.” A recent report that Japan was (in opposition to the law) refuelling US aircraft carrier heading to Iraq will put more sparks into the emerging fire.
Blogger <PERSON>, writing in English, talked about the main issue that <PERSON> will have to take up, the counter-terrorism extension bill.
The first item on the Prime Minister to-do list is, of course, pushing a counter-terrorism extension bill. 289
Mr. <PERSON> has steadfastly refused to say that he'll resort to the supermajority override. I firmly believe that this is merely part of the LDP charm offensive, beginning right after the Upper House election, when <PERSON> and other party worthies talked up the DPJ and even hinted at a Grand Coalition.
Conservative blogger <PERSON> summarized a right-wing position on <PERSON>'s election, seeming to express dismay as a “step backward” that Fukuda will probably take:
一方、安倍氏とは、改憲や集団的自衛権行使の論議で大きく食い違い、今後の「与党内対立」をも回避できない状況にあった。いわば、安倍氏の存在は「目の上のたんこぶ」であり、邪魔者であった。このままでは、政権を離脱する可能性すら考えなければならない局面にあった。
On the other hand, Fukuda has a quite different stance from <PERSON> concerning the right of collective self-defense, and it will be impossible to avoid conflict within the ruling party on this. <PERSON>'s existence itself has become like a “bump on the head of the LDP,” and it even seemed possible that the LDP would lose power.
Thus, for conservatives, it seems that <PERSON> represents a danger that Japan will move leftward from the <PERSON>/<PERSON> line. From the other side, <PERSON>, talks about his excitement about what may come next in Japanese politics.
既存政治を全否定する私でも、これから始まる福田自民党と小沢民主党の歴史的攻防にワクワクした思いで注目せざるを得ない。国民不在の政治劇ではあるが、どちらが政権を取るのか、そしてその政権がどのような政策を国民に提示するのかは、我々の生活に直結する。
Even I, who am usually blase about politics as usual, am exciting about the coming historical confrontation betwen <PERSON> and <PERSON> of the Democratic Party of Japan. It will be politics without the presence of the people, but the winner of the contest will have a big effect on the lives of the people. 925