Ozawa still a man to watch closely

THE ASAHI SHIMBUN

2010/08/21

Calls are growing within the ruling Democratic Party of Japan for Ichiro Ozawa to run against Prime Minister Naoto Kan in the party's leadership election in September.

While most of the backers are closely aligned with Ozawa, others within that group are urging caution because less than three months have passed since Ozawa resigned as DPJ secretary-general over questionable money transactions involving his political fund management organization.

Photo: Ichiro Ozawa is all smiles as former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, left, addresses a gathering Thursday.

The speculation that Ozawa might oppose Kan in the party's presidential election gained more currency Thursday after Ozawa turned up at a study session in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, hosted by former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama for his intraparty group.

About 160 Diet members gathered at Hatoyama's summer retreat in Karuizawa.

In an attempt to prevent a widening rift between Ozawa and Kan, Hatoyama stressed the importance of party unity.

"Now is the time to dispense with selfish motives and think about how to create a unified party structure," Hatoyama said. "What is most important is to return to the starting point of our activities to carve out a better future for the nation."

However, not everyone was in the same forgiving mood as Hatoyama. Dissatisfaction is still brewing over the DPJ's disastrous showing in the July 11 Upper House election as well as Kan's overall leadership.

As Ozawa prepared to leave the gathering, Yoshikatsu Nakayama, a close aide to Hatoyama, grabbed a microphone and shouted out, "The time is fast approaching when we have to come together to do battle. The mood would improve if we send off Ozawa with a hearty cheer."

Although he was not scheduled to speak, Ozawa then took the microphone and said, "I was able to spend an enjoyable time with many colleagues. Let us join together and work hard in order to respond to the expectations of the people."

After the gathering, Kenji Yamaoka, party vice president and a close Ozawa aide, said, "I believe he has obtained the resolve to stand and make his move."

Yamaoka has already formed a group comprising mainly those belonging to the Ozawa and Hatoyama groups that seeks to return to the DPJ's 2009 campaign manifesto slogan which put people first.

Other Ozawa aides have begun a petition movement to convince him to run.

However, not everyone who attended Thursday's gathering favored Ozawa's entry in the party presidential election.

Lower House member Seishu Makino said, "There has been no resolution to the problem of money in politics. It is not appropriate for a lawmaker with such problems to run in the party presidential election."

Another Upper House member said, "Just because I attended this gathering does not mean I am 'anti-Kan' or 'pro-Ozawa.' I have still not decided how to vote."

It is clear that Ozawa has done little to dampen calls for him to run in the election.

At a gathering in Kyoto on Aug. 14, Ozawa lambasted Kan's handling of government.

"The nation will go downhill if things do not change," Ozawa said. "(Kan) will likely cling to power even after the nation goes south."

Pointing to the party presidential election, Ozawa said, "To make a change through a democratic procedure, September will be the last chance."

Ozawa's actions and words have convinced many within the DPJ that he is serious about running.

One lawmaker who recently met with Ozawa said he told him, "Having a puppet will not do, so we must have the most capable person." In response, Ozawa firmly shook the lawmaker's hand and said, "Thank you for saying that."

The lawmaker is convinced Ozawa will run.

However, public opinion remains very negative toward Ozawa and the questionable money dealings of his political fund management organization.

A prosecution inquest committee has still to decide whether Ozawa should be indicted for his role in those dealings.

One DPJ insider said Ozawa should wait until March since Kan will likely only remain in power until passage of the fiscal 2011 budget in the Diet at that time.

There is also no guarantee that Ozawa would win the party presidential election.

In addition to the money scandal, questions have been raised about how Ozawa would respond to Kan's argument that Japan cannot afford to have three prime ministers over the course of a single year.

While some Ozawa aides openly say his group should bolt from the DPJ should he lose the party presidential election, a veteran lawmaker who knows Ozawa well said, "If Ozawa should lose, that would be the end of his political life."