New premier
August 29, 2011
When results from the first round of voting were released, former Industry Minister Banri Kaieda was in the lead, with the most votes, but not the absolute majority of the 398 delegates of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ). Yoshihiko Noda, known as a fiscal conservative, surprisingly came in second. The tables were turned when the down-to-earth and sometimes tight-lipped finance minister won the second round by 40 votes, thus becoming head of the ruling party.
By being named the DPJ party leader, Yoshiko Noda is set to win the vote for prime minister when the parliament votes on Tuesday, August 30. Naoto Kan announced his resignation as party leader and prime minister on Friday, August 26. Kan had been particularly pressured to resign by the influential DPJ powerbroker Ichizo Ozawa and former Prime Minister Hatoyama, whose candidate for party leader, Kaieda, ended up losing in the final race. One of Noda's biggest tasks as party leader and as prime minister will be to unify his party.
Sixth PM in five years
Noda will be the third premier since his ruling Democratic Party of Japan swept to power in 2009, promising change. After Monday's vote, he addressed the public, asking the Japanese people to give the DPJ another chance to prove the change of government two years ago was not in vain. "Let us shape policies that will convince the people of this country of our work."
Part of that will be cooperating with the opposition. Yoshihiko Noda will not be able to do without the opposition, as it controls the upper house in parliament and can thus block bills. During his time as finance minister and during his short campaign, Noda made it clear he is in favor of raising taxes. A recent poll has revealed that the majority of Japanese citizens would understand a tax raise as a measure to confront the country's current problems.
Great challenges
The Japanese government cannot "afford to put off raising taxes," Kan said, pointing out the country's financial dilemma after the cost of the nuclear disaster in Fukushima and social welfare for the country's ageing population. Kan has vowed to enhance fiscal discipline by "assessing current projects in order to stem wasteful spending." He also said he would "like to reduce the number of representatives in government."
Shortly after the vote, Noda, emphasized that as prime minister, he would have to confront the three greatest challenges facing Japan today: recovery from the March 2011 tsunami, ending the nuclear crisis and harnessing the surging yen.
Author: Peter Kujath / Sarah Berning
Editor: Arun Chowdhury