ID :
60090
Mon, 05/11/2009 - 21:04
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/60090
The shortlink copeid
PROFILE: Resigning DPJ leader Ozawa tried to wrest power from ruling bloc+
TOKYO, May 11 Kyodo -
Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa, who announced Monday that he
will resign, has tried to wrest power from the ruling camp led by the Liberal
Democratic Party, from which he bolted in 1993.
Ozawa, 66, is known as ''a breaker'' for having stirred up Japanese politics
over the years by breaking up and forming various political groupings either in
power or otherwise since he left the LDP.
He led the main opposition party to a landslide victory in the July 2007 House
of Councillors election after assuming the top post in April 2006, boosting
speculation of an imminent end to a nearly uninterrupted LDP rule spanning more
than half a century.
The veteran politician and a former LDP secretary general had long earned a
reputation as a tough behind-the-scenes operator capable of acting
single-handedly, with his aggressive manner of addressing challenges.
A native of northeastern Japan's Iwate Prefecture and a graduate in economics
at Keio University, Ozawa is known as a protege of former Prime Minister Kakuei
Tanaka, who fell from power due to a political money scandal in 1974.
While in the LDP, Ozawa served as home affairs minister from 1985 to 1986 and
the party secretary general, the No. 2 post, from 1989 to 1991.
After leaving the LDP along with more than 40 colleagues in June 1993, Ozawa
became head of the now-defunct New Frontier Party, saying in his address, ''We
will definitely capture the power by appealing our stance to the public.''
He was also instrumental in establishing a coalition government led by Morihiro
Hosokawa of the now-defunct Japan New Party in August 1993, which toppled the
LDP from nearly four decades in power in 1993.
In July 2003, he decided to have his small party merge with the DPJ, saying at
a press conference, ''I have my awareness on one point that we need to gain the
power, win the general election.''
After then DPJ President Seiji Maehara resigned in April 2006 to take
responsibility over false accusations a member lawmaker made alleging a
questionable money transfer involving a senior ruling party legislator, Ozawa
was elected president of the DPJ.
In November 2007, Ozawa offered to resign as a DPJ leader after his idea of
forming a grand coalition with the LDP to seek a breakthrough in the political
gridlock drew fire from DPJ executives. But he retracted the resignation offer
soon afterwards.
Following the 2007 upper house election, the lower chamber of the bicameral
Japanese parliament is ruled by the LDP-led coalition, while the DPJ-led
opposition camp controls the upper house.
Upon his reelection as the DPJ chief last September, he said, ''I'll stake my
political life on this fight and devote everything to creating a new life for
the people.''
==Kyodo
Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa, who announced Monday that he
will resign, has tried to wrest power from the ruling camp led by the Liberal
Democratic Party, from which he bolted in 1993.
Ozawa, 66, is known as ''a breaker'' for having stirred up Japanese politics
over the years by breaking up and forming various political groupings either in
power or otherwise since he left the LDP.
He led the main opposition party to a landslide victory in the July 2007 House
of Councillors election after assuming the top post in April 2006, boosting
speculation of an imminent end to a nearly uninterrupted LDP rule spanning more
than half a century.
The veteran politician and a former LDP secretary general had long earned a
reputation as a tough behind-the-scenes operator capable of acting
single-handedly, with his aggressive manner of addressing challenges.
A native of northeastern Japan's Iwate Prefecture and a graduate in economics
at Keio University, Ozawa is known as a protege of former Prime Minister Kakuei
Tanaka, who fell from power due to a political money scandal in 1974.
While in the LDP, Ozawa served as home affairs minister from 1985 to 1986 and
the party secretary general, the No. 2 post, from 1989 to 1991.
After leaving the LDP along with more than 40 colleagues in June 1993, Ozawa
became head of the now-defunct New Frontier Party, saying in his address, ''We
will definitely capture the power by appealing our stance to the public.''
He was also instrumental in establishing a coalition government led by Morihiro
Hosokawa of the now-defunct Japan New Party in August 1993, which toppled the
LDP from nearly four decades in power in 1993.
In July 2003, he decided to have his small party merge with the DPJ, saying at
a press conference, ''I have my awareness on one point that we need to gain the
power, win the general election.''
After then DPJ President Seiji Maehara resigned in April 2006 to take
responsibility over false accusations a member lawmaker made alleging a
questionable money transfer involving a senior ruling party legislator, Ozawa
was elected president of the DPJ.
In November 2007, Ozawa offered to resign as a DPJ leader after his idea of
forming a grand coalition with the LDP to seek a breakthrough in the political
gridlock drew fire from DPJ executives. But he retracted the resignation offer
soon afterwards.
Following the 2007 upper house election, the lower chamber of the bicameral
Japanese parliament is ruled by the LDP-led coalition, while the DPJ-led
opposition camp controls the upper house.
Upon his reelection as the DPJ chief last September, he said, ''I'll stake my
political life on this fight and devote everything to creating a new life for
the people.''
==Kyodo
