politics

DPJ coalition partner PNP dumps Kamei as leader

15 Comments

The People's New Party (PNP), which is the junior coalition partner of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), on Friday announced that party leader Shizuka Kamei had stepped down over differences concerning the PNP support for a consumption tax hike bill.

After the cabinet approved the bill last Friday -- in which PNP member and Financial Services Minister Shozaburo Jimi went against Kamei's wishes by supporting the bill -- Kamei said he would have no choice but to pull the PNP out of the coalition.

Since then, the party has become divided over the issue. On Thursday, six of the PNP's eight lawmakers decided to replace Kamei and keep the party in the ruling coalition, TBS reported.

The PNP has not nominated anyone to replace Kamei as party head yet, though Jimi and Secretary-General Mikio Shimoji are considered frontrunners.

Kamei has already indicated his intention to launch a new political party this month with Takeo Hiranuma, head of the opposition Sunrise Party and Tokyo Gov Shintaro Ishihara. The new party, called the New Sunrise Party, is expected to draw support from disgruntled members of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan and opposition parties.

© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

15 Comments
Login to comment

Cue circus clowns, jugglers, and other fools.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

he was right to oppose the tax increase which is a broken election promise by the Noda administration.

marcelito -- nonsense. The DPJ could not have possibly anticpated the Tohoku disaster, and the incredible strain that is putting on an already over-borrowed government. Any slack that may have existed before 3/11, which could have possibly made a tax increase unncecessary, disappeared. Or did you not see the news that the new fiscal budget requires borrowing of almost 50% of the total expenditures? No one, not even Japan can continue to borrow more than it is taking in. Not with social services costs rising every year due to the aging population.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

I am sick with LDP and other broken record-players repeating and repeating about the broken promises! Point me only one politician that fully obey his promises and I will change my mind.

First of all the wish DPJ had should have shifted once in power, seeing how much they have to reform and how many wooden heads they need to overcome. Second - they came in power in the worst moment when the economic downturn was getting the chances of following the promises dim. And finally - do I need to say it - the disaster that eats and eats enormous budget.

Well, tell me now who would have followed promises rather doing what has to be done in the moment to save the country?

Enough with the demagogy! What DPJ is failing is mostly the communication with the electorate not being able to explain why they have changed and what are they doing.

Don't want to defend them for their wrongdoings but they still are the smaller evil in the Japanese politics. I think with the removal of Kamei we see ray of light in the general rule to follow the bureaucrat leader no matter what. Good for the leaders of PNP for taking the stand and not being controlled by single person. Next should be Ohsawa from DPJ to vanish from the scene - really hate those old farts that have being living disguised as opposition comfortably for decades.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Musical chairs. Does anyone actually ever stay with one party? Don't get their way? Change parties or make a new thing. Thing is, they all do the same thing- lie, steal and cheat.

This "new" party sounds like it is taking all the worst of the worst and forming a party that just wants to bury Japan and relive the past. Haven't learned a thing from history.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

good riddance to kamei. i never liked that guy.

@smash

you hit the nail on the head, dude! there seems to be no distinction now between the DPJ and LDP. should they just be called the LDPJ from now?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Kamei is a cry baby.

And I cannot believe they want to raise the regressive tax on food, drugs, baby items, kids school uniforms etc. Try a VAT you clowns. I for one am going to cut down my consumption on everything. I hope all of you do too.

They want to raise the taxes, then let them get no taxes.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Kamei is a total TWIT! Good riddance, the guy was given way way too much time on tv etc & now his own party tosses him on the curb so he can crawl over & hide under blinkies skirt HAHA! Love it!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Kamei=drone .... a populist thinking about ways to keep warming his bum forever. No imagination, no talent, zero imagination just a cunning old-style populist. The tax hike through VAT is inevitable and this guy tries to ingratiate himself with the public with this nonsense and for what? To make himself look good before and electorate and before an election. Good riddance drone ...

3 ( +3 / -0 )

error: I'd meant to write 'opportunist' not populist

1 ( +1 / -0 )

May whoever succeeds Kamei may transform the PNP into something better.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

As history has consistently proven, social programs which are only wealth redistribution schemes cause or accelerate the economic collapse of those societies. Taxes are just one form of wealth extraction(thievery). Not only should the consumption tax increase NOT go forward, but the tax should be abolished entirely. Stealing is a crime. Stealing sanctioned by politicians is no less a crime. Why be productive if the fruit of your labor is taken from you? Any politician who opposes the tax increase should be supported, if only on this issue.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Isn't this the third time Kamei has quit a party because he didn't get his way? Or wait... was he forcefully ejected from the LDP due to scandal? Scandal seems to be a prerequisite for joining the New Sunrise party.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Not sure whether Kamei is Don Quixote. Some people dub him a turtle or kame that gets agile once under water (or in turmoil). But a least he has a good nose to leave a sinking ship as soon as he can almost assure himself of the longed-for passage through the Diet during its current session the postal privatization revisal bill, the first item on his agenda (his party was set up for that). So he may think he can go, giving away the party subsidy as farewell money.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites