Japan’s main opposition party re-elected Ichiro Ozawa as its leader in a special convention yesterday, while five ruling party candidates made final pitches ahead of their party’s vote to replace outgoing Japanese prime minister Yasuo Fukuda.
In sharp contrast to the ruling party’s crowded presidential race, Ozawa, one of the founders of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), was unopposed. Yesterday’s convention was largely a formality — the party had already reappointed him as its leader on Sept. 8 for a two-year term.
“The time has come for us to create a new era for our nation,” Ozawa said in accepting the post. “It might be our last chance.”
PHOTO: AFP
Though he doesn’t have the forces behind him to take over Fukuda’s post, Ozawa’s re-election was seen by many as a sign the political gridlock that has largely paralyzed Japan’s political world for the past two years will continue, if not worsen.
Under Ozawa’s leadership, the DPJ has been making gains against the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and took control of the upper house of parliament in elections in July last year. It has since managed to block or stall many of the main policy initiatives of the ruling party, and helped force Fukuda and his predecessor Shinzo Abe out in a span of less than two years.
Ozawa is now calling for snap elections in the powerful lower house to test the ruling party’s mandate with voters. Polls indicate such calls have public support and the rising pressure could force the LDP to comply as early as next month.
“The Liberal Democrats have destroyed their own political foundations,” Ozawa said. “The country can see that the Liberal Democrats no longer have the ability to govern the country.”
The LDP’s inability to override the DPJ’s stubborn resistance has led to what many in the party have called a crisis of both leadership and direction.
The abrupt resignation of Fukuda earlier this month — he said he felt he could not deal with the opposition’s uncooperative strategy — forced the LDP to call elections for the party presidency, and yesterday was the final day of campaigning.
The elections will be held today. The winner is virtually assured of becoming prime minister when parliament opens on Wednesday because the LDP and their junior coalition partner hold a majority in the lower house, which makes the final decision.
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