Weakened by scandal and failure at the ballot box, Japan's embattled prime minister announced yesterday that he would quit after only a year in office, bowing out amid a political brawl over the country's aid to US-led forces in Afghanistan.
Shinzo Abe, at 52, Japan's youngest postwar prime minister, surprised members of his party and even his own Cabinet by deciding to resign only days after he pledged to stake his government on success of legislation to extend a naval mission in the Indian Ocean.
The prime minister, whose government was severely damaged by a string of scandals and the ruling party's loss of control of the upper house of parliament in elections in July, said it was time for someone more politically viable to shepherd the Afghan measure through the legislature.
"I decided a quick decision was necessary, and that a further delay would cause political confusion," he told a nationally televised news conference. "I find myself unable to keep my promises - I myself have become an obstacle to fulfilling those promises."
Abe listed the election defeat and an opposition leader's refusal to meet with him earlier in the day as signs that he could no longer lead.
It was clear that Abe's unpopular government had become a serious liability for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which is facing increasing calls from the resurgent opposition for snap elections to the powerful lower house of parliament.
Four Abe-picked Cabinet ministers have resigned because of scandals. Abe's support ratings have sagged to about 30 percent.
Abe did not announce a date for his departure. The LDP said it would use a streamlined election process to choose a party president, reportedly next Wednesday. The LDP leader is guaranteed election as prime minister because of the party's control of the lower house.
Abe's former foreign minister, Taro Aso, is considered a front-runner to replace him.
Abe announced his departure just as the government faced a battle in parliament over the Indian Ocean mission, which the opposition has vowed to defeat.
Japan's navy has been providing fuel for coalition warships in the Indian Ocean since November 2001 under a special anti-terrorism law that has already been extended three times. The legislation is a key issue of the extraordinary parliament session that opened on Monday.
Though polls show public opinion is split on the issue, the government should be able to push the legislation through because the ruling party controls the lower house, which can override a no-vote by the upper house.
Yesterday, Abe suggested that his departure could aid bipartisan passage of the bill. "I have pondered how Japan should continue its fight against terrorism," Abe said. "I now believe we need change. Japan must continue its fight against terrorism under a new prime minister."
The opposition criticized Abe for quitting just as the session was to heat up - and vowed not to drop its fight against the naval mission, even with Abe gone. "I've been a politician for nearly 40 years, but I think this is the first time that a prime minister has remained in office after the ruling party lost a majority... and expressed his resignation right before parliamentary questioning," said Ichiro Ozawa, leader of the opposition Democratic Party of Japan.
(China Daily 09/13/2007 page 1)
Questions:
1. How old is Prime Minister Shinzo Abe?
2. What party does Shinzo Abe lead?
3. What day will the LDP elect a new party president?
Answers:
1. 52.
2. Liberal Democratic Party.
3. NextWednesday.
（英語點津 Linda 編輯）
About the broadcaster:
Marc Checkley is a freelance journalist and media producer from Auckland, New Zealand. Marc has had an eclectic career in the media/arts, most recently working as a radio journalist for NewstalkZB, New Zealand’s leading news radio network, as a feature writer for Travel Inc, New Nutrition Business (UK) and contributor for Mana Magazine and the Sunday Star Times. Marc is also a passionate arts educator and is involved in various media/theatre projects in his native New Zealand and Singapore where he is currently based. Marc joins the China Daily with support from the Asia New Zealand Foundation.
