Photo: Reuters
Japan's Prime Minister Naoto Kan attends a general meeting of his ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) lawmakers at the parliament building in Tokyo, August 26, 2011
Japan will soon see its seventh prime minister in a span of five years. In a widely anticipated move, Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Friday announced his resignation. The country is facing serious social and economic challenges as it recovers from this year’s unprecedented natural and nuclear disasters. A new leader is to be named early next week.
The unpopular Japanese prime minister has bowed to the inevitable. Kan on Friday made good on his promise to resign after less than 15 months in power.
Kan, addressing fellow lawmakers of his Democratic Party of Japan, says he took appropriate actions in severe circumstances.
That was a response to the criticism he faced following the March 11 disaster and his government’s perceived insufficient response to it.
The magnitude 9.0 earthquake triggered a historic tsunami. The natural disaster left 20,000 dead or missing. It also was the catalyst for the meltdown of reactors at the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
The tragedies put Japanese politics on hold and postponed a resignation seen as inevitable even prior to March 11.
Kan created further debate about his leadership by pushing, as a weakened head of government, a plan to phase out nuclear power in wake of the Fukushima radiation leaks.
Japan has few natural resources and relies on imports of fossil fuels and nuclear plants to power the world’s third largest economy.
Kan was nearly forced out of office in June but survived a parliamentary no confidence motion supported by many in his own party.
As part of a deal to stave off his immediate removal from office, Kan agreed to resign later. But critics accused him of stubbornly clinging to power, as he insisted first that several pieces of legislation be approved before his departure.
The final two pieces of legislation - bills dealing with issuance of bonds and renewable energy - were approved Friday. That removed the last barriers Kan had put in place blocking his immediate resignation.
The DPJ is to choose a new leader on Monday with voting limited to its nearly 400 lawmakers. The following day the Parliament will select a prime minister with the Democrats’ candidate ensured victory because of their control of the Lower House.
The brief internal party campaign among those jockeying to succeed Kan begins Saturday. At least four lawmakers will be contesting the post, including former Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara - considered the frontrunner - and the current Finance Minister, Yoshihiko Noda.
The party, which was formed in 1998 and took power less than two years ago, faces internal turmoil and the next leader may experience only a short tenure.
Many analysts predict a national election will be called next year and could allow the opposition conservatives, the Liberal Democratic Party, to return to power. The LDP has governed Japan for most of the post-World War II era.
The unpopular Japanese prime minister has bowed to the inevitable. Kan on Friday made good on his promise to resign after less than 15 months in power.
Kan, addressing fellow lawmakers of his Democratic Party of Japan, says he took appropriate actions in severe circumstances.
That was a response to the criticism he faced following the March 11 disaster and his government’s perceived insufficient response to it.
The magnitude 9.0 earthquake triggered a historic tsunami. The natural disaster left 20,000 dead or missing. It also was the catalyst for the meltdown of reactors at the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
The tragedies put Japanese politics on hold and postponed a resignation seen as inevitable even prior to March 11.
Kan created further debate about his leadership by pushing, as a weakened head of government, a plan to phase out nuclear power in wake of the Fukushima radiation leaks.
Japan has few natural resources and relies on imports of fossil fuels and nuclear plants to power the world’s third largest economy.
Kan was nearly forced out of office in June but survived a parliamentary no confidence motion supported by many in his own party.
As part of a deal to stave off his immediate removal from office, Kan agreed to resign later. But critics accused him of stubbornly clinging to power, as he insisted first that several pieces of legislation be approved before his departure.
The final two pieces of legislation - bills dealing with issuance of bonds and renewable energy - were approved Friday. That removed the last barriers Kan had put in place blocking his immediate resignation.
The DPJ is to choose a new leader on Monday with voting limited to its nearly 400 lawmakers. The following day the Parliament will select a prime minister with the Democrats’ candidate ensured victory because of their control of the Lower House.
The brief internal party campaign among those jockeying to succeed Kan begins Saturday. At least four lawmakers will be contesting the post, including former Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara - considered the frontrunner - and the current Finance Minister, Yoshihiko Noda.
The party, which was formed in 1998 and took power less than two years ago, faces internal turmoil and the next leader may experience only a short tenure.
Many analysts predict a national election will be called next year and could allow the opposition conservatives, the Liberal Democratic Party, to return to power. The LDP has governed Japan for most of the post-World War II era.
0 comments:
Post a Comment