Fukuda's resignation leaves uncertainty to ruling party

TOKYO, Sept. 2 (Chinese media) -- Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda announced his abrupt resignation Monday evening, sending shockwaves across the nation and incurring criticism. Sluggish public support rate and tough political situation such as the "contorted" Diet finally cornered Fukuda to step

down less than one year in office.

As Fukuda recalled at the hastily-convened press

conference at his official residence, his Cabinet has never stood on a favorable

ground. His ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) was defeated in the House of

Councillors election two month before he assumed the premiership in September

2007, costing the ruling coalition's majority in the upper house of the Diet.

Japan's Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda (L)

leaves his official residence after attending a press conference in Tokyo,

Japan, Sept. 1, 2008. Yasuo Fukuda announced his resignation at the press

conference on Monday. (Chinese media Photo)
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Fukuda's adeptness at coordination failed to work.

The major opposition Democratic Party of Japan refused Fukuda's invitation to

form a coalition government and waged all-out confrontation in the Diet,

blocking several critical bills such as the special antiterrorism measures law

which was aimed at extending the Self-Defense Forces (SDF)' refueling mission in

the Indian Ocean.

In the latest case, the government's appointments of

the central bank leadership was turned down for several times in the parliament.

Although the more powerful House of Representatives,

or the lower house, which is under control of the ruling coalition, could

overturn the upper house's decision by a two-thirds majority in accordance with

the parliamentary law, the process is not only time-consuming, but also highly

likely to arouse the public's discontent of politics, thus further risk the

government's approval rating.

Since early this year, incidents such as the Maritime

SDF's collision with a fishing boat, unresolved blunder of losing huge number of

pension records, imposing additional petroleum tax and new medical system for

seniors dragged the Fukuda Cabinet into worse situation. From 50 percent shortly

after taking office, Fukuda's support rate declined to just 20 percent in May

and has been hovering over the dangerous level. The Group of Eight summit in

July and the reshuffle of the Cabinet and the LDP leadership in early August

helped little on boosting the rate.

Without the public support, Fukuda has no way to

exert pressure on the opposition bloc in the Diet. Furthermore, the prospect for

the ruling party's success in the next lower house election was turning blur.

The LDP's friction with the minor ruling coalition

partner the New Komeito party has been accumulating. Difference were not only

over whether to forcibly extend the refueling mission by the two-thirds majority

in the lower house, but also over when to convene the extraordinary Diet

session.

Analysts said that as the ruling party could not get

the two-thirds majority in the lower house by itself, Fukuda was almost in

despair on Diet management and lost the final resolution to continue his

administration.

Fukuda said that now was the good timing for him to

resign in order not to leave political vacuum and make trouble for the people as

the extraordinary Diet session is still some time away.

In retrospect at the press conference, Fukuda

reminded of his Cabinet reshuffle in early August and publication of a set of

comprehensive economic policies last week. He expressed his confidence that his

work in the past year constituted a strong basis for future significant

progress.

Japanese media said the future is not optimistic for

the ruling party as the contorted Diet is not to be changed and Fukuda's abrupt

resignation, which bore resemblance of that of Shinzo Abe, was a sever blow to

the prestige of the LDP.

Even within the LDP, criticism was soaring over

Fukuda's resignation, calling it an "irresponsible" act. LDP Secretary General

and former Foreign Minister Taro Aso is widely seen as a front-runner in the

upcoming LDP general election. In the tough situation, it is hard to say whether

the popular politician, if elected, would repeat the fate of his two

predecessors.

Japanese PM announces resignation

TOKYO, Sept. 1 (Chinese media) -- Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda announced his decision to resign Monday.

At a hastily-summoned press conference at the prime minister's official residence in the evening, Fukuda said he met a lot of difficulties in his term and called for a new framework to implement policies.

Can Fukuda shake off difficulties by

reshuffling Cabinet?

TOKYO, Aug. 2 (Chinese media) -- Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo

Fukuda reshuffled the Cabinet and shook up the executive lineup of his ruling

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Friday, retaining only four of the 17 Cabinet

members.

It was the first reshuffle by Fukuda since he took office

and inherited most of the Cabinet last September from his predecessor Shinzo

Abe. Why did Fukuda make a major change to the Cabinet at this time? What are

the characteristics of the new Cabinet? And what will the reshuffle bring to the

Fukuda administration? Full story