The Yomiuri Shimbun
Prime Minister Taro Aso has apparently begun trying to put more of his own ideas and character on display as an upcoming House of Representatives election looms on the horizon.
Political observers say Aso is aiming to keep in check pressures from inside the Liberal Democratic Party to oust him and work on points to dispute with the Democratic Party of Japan for the election.
By doing so, Aso aims to emphasize his intention to dissolve the lower house at his own discretion sometime after the July 12 Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election.
At the beginning of a press conference Thursday evening at the Japan National Press Club, Aso said: "Whatever I might talk about, the first question [you may pose] will be about the dissolution [of the lower house]. So I'll talk about that first."
In regard to the timing of the dissolution, he made a suggestive remark that "It'll happen in the not-so-distant future." He then emphasized his achievements in domestic political affairs.
The prime minister is to deliver a speech about his diplomatic policy Tuesday. Aso's upcoming diplomatic calendar is busy, including summit talks with South Korean President Lee Myung Bak on Sunday and the summit meeting of the Group of Eight major countries in Italy on July 8-10.
Political observers said Aso, by conveying his opinions on domestic politics and diplomacy, is trying to shape the public's image of the ruling camp ahead of the general election and create a favorable environment for dissolving the lower house as soon as possible.
Aso's aggressive stance apparently stems from his confidence that the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito can emerge victorious in the metropolitan assembly election, the observers said.
At a meeting Thursday evening of LDP candidates in the metropolitan assembly election, Aso flatly rejected the idea that he would have to step down as head of the party if the LDP loses in the metropolitan election.
"I heard there have been no LDP leaders who have gone to support metropolitan assembly contests. Are you suggesting it's bad if I go [to give support] and as a result the party loses? I don't care. What I need to do is to make every effort as the LDP president," he said.
However, even Aso's aides have suggested there are not many policy lines that can be taken to boost the Aso Cabinet's sluggish approval ratings. This, many political observers said, makes it hard for Aso to grab the initiative in any future political developments.
Though being upbeat, Aso did avoid giving a clear reply to former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe when he secretly visited him at the prime minister's official residence Wednesday evening and told Aso, "Unless you reshuffle the Cabinet and top LDP posts, the lower house election will be a tough battle."
Aso gave an ambiguous reaction to his long-time ally because the prime minister, as one government source said, "is afraid he'll create grudges from those who don't land Cabinet posts [in a reshuffle]. This outweighs the merits of reshuffling the Cabinet."
Lawmakers close to Aso have been dismayed, saying they are beset with challenges from all sides.
There also is lingering anxiety over Aso's repeated gaffes. Most recently, he said during a visit in support of a candidate in the metropolitan assembly election that the candidate would "lose a close game" instead of "win by all means."
While being urged to make an eleventh-hour decision on his own fate, Aso also reflected on his personal feelings at Thursday's press conference about his own situation.
"The loneliness is like being on my own in pitch darkness. It continues from the beginning [since taking office as prime minister] to the end," he said.
(Jun. 27, 2009)
Posts
