August 30, 2010
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Prime Minister Naoto Kan has accepted his predecessor Yukio Hatoyama's recommendation that he hold talks with former Democratic Party secretary general Ichiro Ozawa over the upcoming party leadership election.
Ahead of the September 1st official announcement of the Democratic Party presidential race, Kan and Ozawa are making moves to win the support of floating party members. Kan aims to be re-elected party president, but Ozawa has announced his intention to challenge him.
On Sunday night, Kan met with Hatoyama for about 40 minutes at the prime minister's official residence.At the meeting, Hatoyama explained why he decided to support Ozawa.
Then Hatoyama recommended that Kan hold talks with Ozawa before the party presidential election is officially announced. He suggested that it might do Kan good to ask for Ozawa's cooperation. Kan replied that he would be grateful if Hatoyama would arrange such a meeting with Ozawa.
Kan and Hatoyama apparently did not discuss concrete ideas on personnel affairs, such as giving Ozawa a post to ensure party unity.
After the Kan-Hatoyama meeting, Democratic Party lawmakers supporting Ozawa held a meeting. Ozawa sent a message to them, saying he won't back off from the upcoming leadership race.
One of the participants said they discussed Ozawa's policies and how to prepare for the party leadership election.
2010/08/30 05:33(JST)
(JST: UTC+9hrs.)
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