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Japan's Ruling Party Must Bow to Reforms
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# : |
16650 |
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Section : |
CURRENT ISSUES
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| Issue
Date : |
10 / 1989 |
2,042 Words |
| Author
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Hiroyasu Tomaru
Hiroyasu Tomaru is a free-lance writer based in Tokyo and a
foreign correspondent for the New York City Tribune. |
Few people had expected that Japan Socialist Party (JSP) Chairwoman Takako Doi's dream would come true so quickly: The House of Councillors (upper house) on August 9 selected her as its choice for prime minister.
This dramatic development occurred as a result of the JSP's landslide victory over the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in the July 23 House of Councillors election. Her ambition to become prime minister was blocked by the more powerful House of Representatives (lower house), however, which selected instead LDP President Toshiki Kaifu, 58.
The Diet (national assembly) settled on Kaifu, in keeping with the constitutional stipulation that the lower house prevails over the upper house in such situations. By the rules and regulations governing Diet proceedings, the lower house has a bigger voice in choosing prime ministers, making budgets, and ratifying treaties. But the two chambers carry equal weight on most other matters.
Doi, who stepped aside for Kaifu, said the day Kaifu formed his cabinet was "the beginning of the end of the LDP's control over Japanese politics."
Members of the LDP, which has been wracked by a series of scandals lately, see Kaifu as the fresh young leader needed to prop up the party's sagging fortunes, a party official said.
An elite politician and rising star, Kaifu became the second youngest prime minister after Kakuei Tanaka, who assumed the office at age 54. Kaifu had been the youngest member of the lower house
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