ID :
195269
Fri, 07/15/2011 - 19:26
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https://oananews.org//node/195269
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Kan says nuclear phaseout comments 'personal' view
TOKYO, July 15 Kyodo -
Prime Minister Naoto Kan said Friday the view he expressed this week of trying to build a society that does not depend on nuclear energy is ''personal,'' not government policy.
The disparity within the Cabinet towards Kan's views on nuclear issues also became clearer. National Public Safety Commission chief Kansei Nakano said Kan's remarks Wednesday at a news conference are ''causing confusion'' as he and other Cabinet members were not informed in advance what the premier would say.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said an informal Cabinet meeting on nuclear issues will likely be held early next week.
Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda told a news conference that the government should not decide on Japan's future stance on nuclear energy ''too hastily.''
Economics minister Kaoru Yosano said the issue of how to reduce Japan's dependence on nuclear energy must be addressed within the wider context of energy policy.
''It will likely take a fairly long time before the country can completely reduce nuclear power generation,'' said Yosano, known as a proponent of atomic energy.
On Wednesday, Kan said Japan should aim to phase out nuclear energy by gradually reducing its use over coming years.
Japan's energy planning has been throwed into disarray by the serious accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Before the March 11 earthquake and tsunami ravaged the Fukushima plant, nuclear energy produced about 30 percent of the electricity generated in Japan.
On Friday Kan reiterated, while speaking during a parliament session, three conditions must be met before he will voluntarily step down as prime minister.
Those conditions are parliamentary passage of three bills: the second extra budget for fiscal 2011, a bill to enable the government to issue deficit-covering bonds in the year through March 31, and a bill to promote the use of renewable energy sources.
The premier denied the possibility of stepping down in the foreseeable future, saying he is committed to assisting people affected by the March disaster.
Nevertheless, not only opposition lawmakers but even members of the Cabinet and senior lawmakers of his own ruling party are losing patience with Kan.
National policy minister Koichiro Gemba said the Democratic Party of Japan must organize an election in August to choose Kan's successor as party leader.
''September isn't good considering the formulation of the third extra budget for fiscal 2011,'' said Gemba, who doubles as the ruling party's policy chief.
DPJ's Diet affairs chief Jun Azumi also said the third supplementary budget -- providing funding for many central measures for rebuilding the disaster-stricken northeast of Japan -- should be undertaken in September by ''a new strong structure.''
''We will as soon as possible create an environment in which the Kan government can pass the baton,'' Azumi said at a news conference.
==Kyodo
Prime Minister Naoto Kan said Friday the view he expressed this week of trying to build a society that does not depend on nuclear energy is ''personal,'' not government policy.
The disparity within the Cabinet towards Kan's views on nuclear issues also became clearer. National Public Safety Commission chief Kansei Nakano said Kan's remarks Wednesday at a news conference are ''causing confusion'' as he and other Cabinet members were not informed in advance what the premier would say.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said an informal Cabinet meeting on nuclear issues will likely be held early next week.
Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda told a news conference that the government should not decide on Japan's future stance on nuclear energy ''too hastily.''
Economics minister Kaoru Yosano said the issue of how to reduce Japan's dependence on nuclear energy must be addressed within the wider context of energy policy.
''It will likely take a fairly long time before the country can completely reduce nuclear power generation,'' said Yosano, known as a proponent of atomic energy.
On Wednesday, Kan said Japan should aim to phase out nuclear energy by gradually reducing its use over coming years.
Japan's energy planning has been throwed into disarray by the serious accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Before the March 11 earthquake and tsunami ravaged the Fukushima plant, nuclear energy produced about 30 percent of the electricity generated in Japan.
On Friday Kan reiterated, while speaking during a parliament session, three conditions must be met before he will voluntarily step down as prime minister.
Those conditions are parliamentary passage of three bills: the second extra budget for fiscal 2011, a bill to enable the government to issue deficit-covering bonds in the year through March 31, and a bill to promote the use of renewable energy sources.
The premier denied the possibility of stepping down in the foreseeable future, saying he is committed to assisting people affected by the March disaster.
Nevertheless, not only opposition lawmakers but even members of the Cabinet and senior lawmakers of his own ruling party are losing patience with Kan.
National policy minister Koichiro Gemba said the Democratic Party of Japan must organize an election in August to choose Kan's successor as party leader.
''September isn't good considering the formulation of the third extra budget for fiscal 2011,'' said Gemba, who doubles as the ruling party's policy chief.
DPJ's Diet affairs chief Jun Azumi also said the third supplementary budget -- providing funding for many central measures for rebuilding the disaster-stricken northeast of Japan -- should be undertaken in September by ''a new strong structure.''
''We will as soon as possible create an environment in which the Kan government can pass the baton,'' Azumi said at a news conference.
==Kyodo
