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(August 7, 2007/
Japan)
Japan's
upper house has elected a president from outside the ruling
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) for the first time in more than
50 years.
Lawmakers
voted unanimously for Satsuki Eda of the Democratic Party of
Japan (DPJ), who becomes the first opposition politician to hold
the post.
The move
follows the LDP's crushing defeat in July's upper house
elections.
Its
ruling coalition lost its majority, while the DPJ made huge
gains and became the chamber's largest party.
Since the
polls, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has faced calls for his
resignation, but says he intends to remain in office.
He has,
however, pledged a Cabinet reshuffle, which is expected to take
place later this month.
'New situation'
The
66-year-old new president, Satsuki Eda, is a veteran DPJ
lawmaker. He told the chamber that Japan's political landscape
had altered.
"The
make-up of the upper house has drastically changed after the
upper house elections and we are facing a political situation we
have never faced before," he said.
"I think
voters' expectations for the upper house are now extremely
high."
Some
analysts believe the new situation could lead to political
deadlock.
The
ruling coalition still controls the more powerful lower house,
but the opposition could now block bills in the upper house,
forcing the spotlight on potentially controversial issues.
One such
issue is that of Japanese maritime support for US-led forces in
Afghanistan.
'International
expectations'
Japanese
naval vessels have been providing refuelling and other
logistical support in the Indian Ocean.
The
current mandate for the mission - which the DPJ opposes - is to
expire on 1 November.
On
Monday, speaking at a ceremony to commemorate the 62nd
anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on the city of
Hiroshima, Mr Abe acknowledged that he faced a problem.
"I will
strive to pass the laws in order to meet the expectations of the
international community and contribute to it," he said.
"I want
to discuss this thoroughly with people of the Democratic Party
and seek their cooperation," the embattled premier told
journalists.
Recent
polls have indicated further falls in support for Mr Abe, who
took office in September 2006.
A survey
conducted by the Mainichi newspaper on 4/5 August showed support
for him at 22%, a new low.
He has
been hit by a series of ministerial scandals and a pensions
crisis, which have led voters to question his leadership skills.
(The Democratic Party of Japan is an observer member of CALD.) |
