ID :
174449
Mon, 04/11/2011 - 07:23
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http://m.oananews.org//node/174449
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ANALYSIS: Kan's Headache Worsens after DPJ's Local Poll Setbacks
Tokyo, April 11 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan, whose approval has been faltering, will face a bigger headache following the ruling Democratic Party of Japan's poor performance in Sunday's local elections.
The DPJ lost to the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party in both of the closely watched direct showdowns in the gubernatorial elections--one in Hokkaido and the other in Mie.
Furthermore, the ruling party performed poorly in prefectural and city assembly elections, which were held as part of the first batch of quadrennial unified local elections.
The results bode ill for the DPJ, which needs cooperation from the opposition side to speedily work out reconstruction plans for areas devastated by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
At a meeting Sunday night, Kan agreed with DPJ Secretary-General Katsuya Okada and Azuma Koshiishi, head of the DPJ members in the House of Councillors, to listen to the opposition camp carefully to ensure smooth parliamentary proceedings.
In the small hours of Monday, Okada told reporters that the party does not think the local election results show voters' direct criticism of the ruling camp, declining to step down over its defeat in the elections.
But LDP Secretary-General Nobuteru Ishihara sought Kan's resignation, saying that voters have raised a question on the government's ability to handle disaster responses and the unabated nuclear crisis at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima No. 1 plant.
New Komeito Chief Representative Natsuo Yamaguchi said Kan's administration failed to win support from the public, particularly over its response to the March 11 disaster.
DPJ lawmakers close to former party President Ichiro Ozawa refrain from outright efforts to oust Kan at a time the government is focusing on restoration and reconstruction work for the disaster-hit areas.
But a veteran DPJ lawmaker questioned whether Kan can survive as leader until Japan enacts a second supplementary budget for fiscal 2011 that would follow the first add-on budget now being prepared.
The government and the DPJ decided to set the size of the first extra budget, mainly to remove rubbles and build temporary homes for evacuees, at around 4 trillion yen.
They aim to pass it through the Diet, or Japan's parliament, in early May after the Golden Week holiday period, while an envisioned second extra budget is likely to be submitted in June or July.
But the ruling and opposition sides remain apart on how to secure financial resources. The opposition bloc calls for the abolition of child allowances and other expensive programs introduced in line with the DPJ's manifesto for the 2009 general election.
Also, the results of Sunday's elections pose a bigger obstacle to Kan's efforts to form a coalition with the LDP. The major opposition group may seek the resignation of Kan as a condition to accept such a deal, informed sources said.
The DPJ lost to the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party in both of the closely watched direct showdowns in the gubernatorial elections--one in Hokkaido and the other in Mie.
Furthermore, the ruling party performed poorly in prefectural and city assembly elections, which were held as part of the first batch of quadrennial unified local elections.
The results bode ill for the DPJ, which needs cooperation from the opposition side to speedily work out reconstruction plans for areas devastated by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
At a meeting Sunday night, Kan agreed with DPJ Secretary-General Katsuya Okada and Azuma Koshiishi, head of the DPJ members in the House of Councillors, to listen to the opposition camp carefully to ensure smooth parliamentary proceedings.
In the small hours of Monday, Okada told reporters that the party does not think the local election results show voters' direct criticism of the ruling camp, declining to step down over its defeat in the elections.
But LDP Secretary-General Nobuteru Ishihara sought Kan's resignation, saying that voters have raised a question on the government's ability to handle disaster responses and the unabated nuclear crisis at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima No. 1 plant.
New Komeito Chief Representative Natsuo Yamaguchi said Kan's administration failed to win support from the public, particularly over its response to the March 11 disaster.
DPJ lawmakers close to former party President Ichiro Ozawa refrain from outright efforts to oust Kan at a time the government is focusing on restoration and reconstruction work for the disaster-hit areas.
But a veteran DPJ lawmaker questioned whether Kan can survive as leader until Japan enacts a second supplementary budget for fiscal 2011 that would follow the first add-on budget now being prepared.
The government and the DPJ decided to set the size of the first extra budget, mainly to remove rubbles and build temporary homes for evacuees, at around 4 trillion yen.
They aim to pass it through the Diet, or Japan's parliament, in early May after the Golden Week holiday period, while an envisioned second extra budget is likely to be submitted in June or July.
But the ruling and opposition sides remain apart on how to secure financial resources. The opposition bloc calls for the abolition of child allowances and other expensive programs introduced in line with the DPJ's manifesto for the 2009 general election.
Also, the results of Sunday's elections pose a bigger obstacle to Kan's efforts to form a coalition with the LDP. The major opposition group may seek the resignation of Kan as a condition to accept such a deal, informed sources said.
