August 26, 2010
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Former secretary general of the governing Democratic Party Ichiro Ozawa has declared that he will run in the party's presidential election against Prime Minister Naoto Kan, who's running for reelection.
Ozawa told reporters on Thursday that he decided to run in the September 14th election after former prime minister Yukio Hatoyama promised his full support.
Hatoyama told reporters that he's morally obliged to provide such support since he asked Ozawa to join the Democratic Party in the first place.Ozawa later met senior party members and secured their support. About 20 junior party members close to Ozawa agreed to work to seek support from other members.
Kan met 14 first-term Lower House members who are backing him for reelection. He said he wants Ozawa to make clear to the party and the public what he would do as party leader and prime minister.
Kan also told his aides that he does not deny the importance of party unity, but that he will reject any pre-election deal for party posts, in an apparent reference to Ozawa.
At a meeting of party members close to Hatoyama, some senior members said they would back Ozawa. Others said Hatoyama should talk Ozawa out of running because a confrontation between him and Kan could split the party.
The election will be officially announced on Wednesday.
2010/08/26 21:08(JST)
(JST: UTC+9hrs.)
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