politics

Kaieda says he'll run in DPJ presidential election

14 Comments

Banri Kaieda, 62, the economy, trade and industry minister, on Friday announced his intention to run in the DPJ presidential election to replace Prime Minister Naoto Kan.

Kaeda told a news conference that he will do his best to get the backing of 20 party lawmakers, the minimum number necessary for a candidate to take part in the election. He said he is running because he wants to unify the party.

After the news conference, he met with former DPJ chief Ichiro Ozawa and former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama to ask for their support.

Ozawa, who leads the party's largest faction with 140 members, is expected to play a key role, even though he is under indictment over a political funds scandal and has no voting privilege. Ozawa said on Wednesday that the next prime minister must be experienced and be willing to give up everything to lead Japan out of its current crisis.

Kaieda came under fire earlier this month after he was seen crying in the Diet when he apologized for lax supervision of his ministry's nuclear safety agency and the scandal in which power utilities admitted trying to fake public support at symposiums.

The actual date of the election, which will be announced next week by DPJ Secretary-General Katsuya Okada, is expected to be Aug 28 or Aug 29.

The crowded field also includes Finance Minister Yoshiko Noda, 54, Agriculture Minister Michiko Kano, 69, former Environment Minister Sakihito Ozawa, 57, former Transport Minister Sumio Mabuchi, 51, and Shinji Tarutoko, 52, the DPJ’s chief of parliamentary affairs. Former Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara, 49, says he still hasn't made up his mind.

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14 Comments
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In the midst of the world's worst nuclear disaster the last thing we need is a crybaby.

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Japan, U.S. try to salvage Futenma relocation plan

I would like to address my concern listed above to every candidates including Kaieda what he/she wants to do. Anyone? Thanks.

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Great! Get ready for not only all the unstable nuclear reactors to be reactivited, but even MORE to be built! This guy has made quite clear his stance on nuclear power. I hope to god this guy doesn't get it -- he's an idiot, and worse than some of the other idiots.

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global watcher: "I would like to address my concern listed above to every candidates including Kaieda what he/she wants to do. Anyone? Thanks."

Any candidate who speaks strongly either way about Futenma or Okinawa in the DPJ election would be committing suicide after the problems Hatoyama caused. They will probably avoid that problem as best as they can. Once elected, in the next national vote for PM THAT is when they would make it a case as they would want the support of the right-wingers and the few people in Okinawa who care about the issue.

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@smith, thank you for your feedback. I do not go for this guy if he has a strong stance for more NUKE. Idiot!

What do you think about Seiji Maehara, and Tarutko? Are they sharing a strong stance view as well as Kaieda for Nuke?

Can you reserch and let me know about this, smith? Thanks. I am hitting my bed. It is getting late in US. I am looking forward to getting your feedback tomorrow morning. smith, I do not go for Noda. Good night.

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Great another crybaby MP with a scandal under his belt. Him vs the right wing Noda. What great choices to lead the country! Let Kan stay, I say. He's the only PM in years to hold up under pressure.

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Not only is he a crybaby, he was crying over his part in the responsibility for the world's worst environmental disaster ever, one that he helped occur by default, and he STILL WANTS TO BE PRIME MINISTER???!!! How much denial does he live in? How can anybody support him? He went to Ozawa for help? Doesn't anyone realize that Obama nixed meeting Kan precisely because of the leadership void in Japan? ( It also didn't help that Kan LIED to Obama when he said that the helicopter water drops on the melting-down reactors were "a success"). Does anyone in Japan REALLY know in what low esteem Japanese leaders are held internationally? Now I have a new definition of the word "cowed" to tell my students: It's YOU!!!

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A crybaby, and I definitely can't imagine him running around a park. Still, right now, he is better than Aso, and if Maehara is PM, then Japan is doomed.

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and if Maehara is PM, then Japan is doomed.

@Asago, why so? Please explain further. I would like to know. Thanks.

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@Asagao, since you do not want to respond to my question above, I will tell your logic here.

Maehara will stand up tall against China and Russia. I see,..... you have tried, but failed to convince me, pal. If you are against Maehara to be a next PM of Japan, then I am for him. Thanks.

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@globalwatcher, Maehara is another MP with a scandal over his head. Why would you want him as PM? He wouldn't hold up under scrutiny for 5 minutes.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-03-07/kan-in-crisis-as-maehara-s-fall-deepens-finance-dilemma.html

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@skroknog, I have been well aware of this scandal, but it does not bother me at all.

First. I believe he did not know that woman was a Zainich. Second, he aknowledged his wrong. Third, unlike Ozawa, he was a man enough to resign from his post immediately. Fourth, I like his streight negotiation style and stance.; firm and clear.Fifth, unlike Japanese, Americans believe in a ""second chance in life when people are honestly trying to do it better. I will keep others until he makes an official announcement someday.

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"Kaieda came under fire earlier this month after he was seen crying in the Diet when he apologized for lax supervision of his ministry’s nuclear safety agency and the scandal in which power utilities admitted trying to fake public support at symposiums."

Great...another lame duck in the making.

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Kaieda is a stooge for the nuclear industry. He sacked some nuclear heads but allowed them to choose their own replacements.

Maehara's scandal is nothing - he shouldn't have resigned in the first place.

Ozawa - now there's a real scandal. The master of under-the-table bribes should commit seppuku.

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