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Kan wins ruling party vote
Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan will keep his job after an unexpectedly strong victory in a ruling party leadership vote on Tuesday, but must now strive to unify his party and forge deals with the opposition to pass laws in a divided parliament.
Kan won just over half of the votes cast by DPJ parliamentarians, but trounced Ozawa in voting among the party rank-and-file.
Kan, 63, who has promised to curb spending and cap borrowing, is already struggling with a strong yen and fragile recovery and will now have to try to unify his fractured party while forging deals with the opposition to pass laws in a divided parliament.
Policy Matrix?of Both Candidates
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Pledged to boost jobs to increase incomes, stimulate consumption and revitalise the economy. |
Economy? |
Take all possible measures, including currency market intervention, to protect the economy from the impact of rapid yen rises. |
Consider drastic tax reform. |
Fiscal Reform and Social Security |
Consider major cuts in income and residential taxes. |
Deepen US-Japan ties while building trust with Asian nations and promote an East Asian Community. |
Diplomacy |
Build closer relations with the United States. |
Previous Analysis: Poll Trends and Vote Scenarios
Media reports say that Kan, 63, who is more popular among the general public, has secured more votes than Ozawa, 68, from local lawmakers as well as party members and supporters who needed to submit their votes by Saturday.
The leadership poll is based on a point system and those eligible to vote are the 411 Democratic members of parliament, local Democratic lawmakers and party members and supporters.
In hopes of swaying around 30 parliamentarians who are still undecided, Kan will focus on Monday on preparing a speech for the party election, while Ozawa will visit lawmakers and interest groups, NHK said.
The two have secured the backing of about the same number of parliamentarians so far, the Nikkei business daily said in its online edition. Whoever wins the vote that has underscored a rift in fiscal priorities is expected to become prime minister because of the DPJ's majority in parliament's lower house.
If PM Kan Wins | If Ozawa Wins |
Kan has a shot at victory even though Ozawa heads the biggest DPJ group, because his opponent faces possible indictment in a funding scandal and is plagued by an image of an old-style wheeler-dealer that makes him unpopular among ordinary voters. |
Ozawa would probably become prime minister because of the DPJ's majority in parliament's lower house, but would start off with extremely low voter support. He has rejected suggestions that he might let another lawmaker become premier to avoid opposition attacks in parliament over a political funding scandal. |
Head Rolls Fast in Japan
In bracket is each former Japanese?PM's tenure.
Yukio Hatoyama (2009.09.16-2010.06.02) |
Taro Aso (2008.09.24-2009.09.16)? |
Fukuda Yasuo (2007.09.23-2008.09.01)? |
Shinzo Abe (2006.09.26-2007.09.12) |
Junichiro Koizumi (2001.04.26-2006.09.26) |