Japan’s opposition Democratic Party picked Yukio Hatoyama, a political blueblood who has pledged to cut wasteful spending and reduce bureaucrats’ clout, as leader yesterday to try to revive its chances in a looming election.
But it was unclear how much Hatoyama, who like Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso is the wealthy grandson of a former prime minister, would appeal to the independent voters whose backing is vital to winning an election that must be held by October.
Opinion polls have shown the Democrats ahead of Aso’s long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), but a fundraising scandal that forced Ichiro Ozawa to step down as leader last week had narrowed the lead.
A Democratic victory would end more than five decades of almost unbroken LDP rule and raise the chances of a breakthrough in a political deadlock that has stymied policy implementation as Japan’s economy struggles with its worst recession in 60 years.
Policy-making in Japan has been stalled since the opposition won control of parliament’s upper house in 2007, allowing them to frustrate legislation. Without a decisive victory by either side, the chances of breaking the stalemate are slim.
Some analysts said a clear election outcome seemed unlikely, meaning the stalemate could continue. Others said it was too early to tell.
“If Hatoyama proves to be a more attractive leader than a lot of people think, he can win a decisive victory because the public is looking for change they can believe in,” said Gerry Curtis, a Columbia University professor and specialist on Japanese politics.
Hatoyama promised to reduce the decades-old bureaucrats’ control of policy — which critics say distorts spending and favors vested interests — cut waste and boost household income through such measures as financial support for families with children.
“To put it simply, I want matters dealt with not in the interests of bureaucrats, but of the people,” he said.
Breaking the grip of bureaucrats over policy would not be easy in Japan, where civil servants have long enjoyed close ties with the LDP and big business.
Both ruling and opposition parties see the need for public spending now to boost growth in the world’s No. 2 economy, so short-term implications for financial markets are not so great.
Lawmakers opted for Hatoyama, 62, over Katsuya Okada, 55, a policy expert with a clean image who had led in opinion polls, in hopes he can unify the fractious party while appealing to voters fed up with the LDP.
RSS