Learn Chinese online - Japan's Fukuda picks allies amid calls for election

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WORLD / Asia-Pacific

Japan's Fukuda picks allies amid calls for election

(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-09-24 15:26

Former chief cabinet secretary Yasuo Fukuda smiles as he speaks at his
first news conference after being elected president of the Liberal
Democratic Party (LDP) at the headquarters in Tokyo September 23, 2007.
[Reuters]?

Tokyo - Japan's prime minister-to-be Yasuo Fukuda selected his party
lieutenants on Monday as he braced for a showdown with a combative
opposition and calls for early elections after a disastrous year for the
ruling coalition.

The 71-year-old Fukuda, a moderate who favours warmer ties with Asia, was
voted leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Sunday after the
abrupt resignation of his predecessor, Shinzo Abe, whose administration
was crippled by scandals and gaffes.

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Fukuda will automatically become prime minister on Tuesday thanks to the
LDP's huge majority in parliament's lower house.

However, the opposition Democratic Party and its allies hold sway in the
upper house, an unusual situation that is likely to beset Fukuda's
administration with policy struggles.

The thorniest issue may be Japan's naval support for US-led military
operations in Afghanistan, which the LDP wants to continue beyond a
November 1 mandate expiry in the face of opposition from the
muscle-flexing Democratic Party.

Fukuda, who beat the hawkish Taro Aso to the top job, picked conservative
former education minister Ibuki Bunmei, a faction leader and loyal ally
in the leadership election, for the number two position in his party,
replacing Aso.

Allies?in place

Allies Sadakazu Tanigaki, a doveish former finance minister, but also a
faction leader, and Toshihiro Nikai were named for the other top party
posts. Another Fukuda backer, Makoto Koga, was put in charge of election
strategy.

Fukuda denied that the appointments had been made on the basis of
factional deals, the LDP's traditional way of operating. "I chose the
best people for the positions," he told reporters.

Analysts say the party would have difficulty restoring public trust if
Fukuda was seen to be appointing cronies or factional candidates to key
cabinet and party positions.

Tanigaki has advocated raising the consumption tax to help tame Japan's
huge public debt, and his appointment is a sign that the issue will be at
the centre of the new government's policy.

Some analysts have expressed concern that efforts to help those who have
lost out economically in restructuring of the past few years could result
in a further expansion of government debt.

"We must proceed with reforms, but we have to decide how to deal with
those who feel a bit left behind," Tanigaki told a news conference.

One difficulty facing Fukuda is how to deal with Aso himself, a former
foreign minister seen by some analysts as having earned recognition for
doing better than expected in Sunday's election.

He could be appointed to the cabinet this week, although many
commentators say major personnel changes are unlikely because the
government wants to push ahead with legislation after a two-week hiatus.
Fukuda told reporters on Monday nothing had been decided.

Cronies unwelcome

Although Fukuda has sought cooperation from the Democratic Party, the
main opposition group on Sunday repeated its call for an early general
election and many newspapers echoed it.

Neither Fukuda nor his predecessor, Abe, have won a mandate in a general
election, leaving many voters frustrated that they have not had a chance
to express their opinions.

"We want to see constructive policy debate with the opposition. Then the
new prime minister must go to the people. This is a six-month stay of
execution," said the Tokyo Shimbun.

Apart from the naval mission, Fukuda must also restore the ageing
population's trust in the pension system, left in tatters after millions
of unidentified premium payments were discovered. Opinion polls have
shown the electorate is also deeply concerned about the increasing gap
between rich and and poor.

Abe, who was admitted to hospital with a gastro-intestinal disorder
exacerbated by stress after his resignation on September 12, was due to
give a news conference from hospital later on Monday.

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