Closeup Japan
Fukuda resigns amid declining support
JAPANESE Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda offered his resignation to pave the way for a stronger leadership before the start of the next session of the Diet. The next Diet session is considered important for the government as it is to take up number of crucial issues, the outcome of which might further weaken the ruling coalition before the next general election scheduled a year from now.
Speaking at a late-evening press conference at the prime minister's official resident, the Japanese prime minister said that he thought a new leadership would not only shore up public support for the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), but also would be able to close the distance with the junior coalition partner Komei Party, which is tilting in favour of calling a snap election before the end of the year.
The change of leadership in Japan would not have any immediate impact on policy issues. Fukuda mentioned that after taking the helm from Shinzo Abe in September last year, who also resigned within a year after assuming office, his main task was to direct the country out of economic downturn and supervise the passage of a number of important bills in the Diet, including the bill to extend the mandate of Japan's refueling mission for the warships of the international coalition fighting against terrorism in Indian Ocean.
The anti-terror bill, though rejected by the opposition-controlled upper house, was able to get through the lower house of the Diet in a second attempt in a much diluted form, that allowed the extension for one year, and further approval will now be needed at the upcoming session of the Diet for a continuation of the mission.
As prime minister, Yasuo Fukuda never enjoyed a broad support base among the people. Though his rating improved slightly after the successful arrangement of G8 Summit in Hokkaido, and after he reshuffled the inherited cabinet early last month, it started to fall again in recent days. A Nikkei opinion poll conducted late last week showed his support rate hovering around 29%, almost nine points less than in early August.
He had also been under constant challenge from the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan, which controls the upper house. It created obstacles in his numerous attempts to pass a number of important bills in the Diet. The opposition is also calling for the dissolution of the lower house, which would clear the way for a snap election; a step many observers believe would be suicidal for the ruling block at a time when the government is fast losing credibility for failing to improve the economic situation of the country.
The ruling coalition now enjoys a two-thirds majority in the lower house, which eventually proved vital in countering the assault of the newly assertive opposition. The fact that the junior coalition partner too is now leaning towards an early election might have eventually compelled Fukuda to take the decision not to dissolve the house but to pass the mantle to a new leader with the hope that a change in the leadership might convince Komeito to stay away from the demand.
The LDP leadership knows perfectly well that it will be virtually impossible to repeat the success of 2005 and, hence, it is important for the party to hang on and complete its term that ends in September 2009.
Fukuda's resignation has already opened the race for LDP leadership. Though it might take time for aspiring candidates to make a formal declaration, party stalwarts have already started their moves behind the scene. Though Fukuda didn't say whom he intended to support as the next leader of the party, he did mention that he consulted with Taro Aso, the party secretary general, about his resignation decision, hinting that he might be willing to extend support to Aso.
It should be mentioned that Aso contested against Fukuda in last year's leadership race and, though he lost the race, was able to collect a significant number of votes. Being the leader of the largest party in the Diet, the LDP leader traditionally assumes the post of prime minister; and many in Japan now believe that the time has come for Aso to take the baton and prepare the party for the crucial general election sometime early next year.
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