ID :
202492
Sat, 08/20/2011 - 18:50
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/202492
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Farm minister Kano willing to enter DPJ leadership race+Farm minister Kano willing to enter DPJ leadership race+
TOKYO, Aug. 20 Kyodo -
Farm minister Michihiko Kano is willing to run in the ruling Democratic Party of Japan's presidential election to pick a successor to Prime Minister Naoto Kan, sources close to him said Saturday.
Kano will make the final decision after meeting with former DPJ leader Ichiro Ozawa and other party heavyweights early next week, according to the sources.
The DPJ leadership is considering conducting the election on Aug. 29 after holding a panel discussion of the candidates the day before, party sources said. In that case, the new party leader would be named as prime minister in the Diet on Aug. 30, although the schedule is still being decided.
Currently, six DPJ lawmakers, including Kano, are preparing to file for candidacy in the election.
Among them, Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Banri Kaieda announced his intention to run in the race on Friday, while Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda and former Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Sumio Mabuchi have voiced their intention to run.
Former Environment Minister Sakihito Ozawa and Shinji Tarutoko, former chairman of the DPJ's Diet Affairs Committee, have also shown a desire to enter the leadership race.
Former Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara, who is being persuaded by some DPJ lawmakers to run, will make his decision soon.
Kano, agriculture, forestry and fisheries minister, is considered a moderate within the DPJ and will stress the need to maintain party unity.
Regarding the leadership race, former DPJ leaders Yukio Hatoyama and Ichiro Ozawa met Saturday in an apparent bid to reach a common position.
While no details were immediately available about the meeting held at the Diet building, they are believed to have confirmed a plan to cooperate over the leadership contest.
Prime Minister Kan is expected to leave office soon amid plunging public support for his Cabinet.
On Saturday, Hatoyama also met with Noda and Kano, respectively, to compare notes on their views regarding the DPJ leadership race.
While Noda has expressed his readiness to form a grand coalition with the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party and its ally the New Komeito party, and to raise taxes to finance reconstruction following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, he presented a flexible attitude on the issues during the meeting with Hatoyama.
Kano, for his part, sought Hatoyama's support if he runs in the party presidential election.
Mabuchi, meanwhile, suggested on a TV program Saturday that he would lift the suspension of Ichiro Ozawa's party membership if he becomes DPJ president. Former Environment Minister Ozawa and Kaieda have also indicated the same stance over the former party leader.
The DPJ suspended Ichiro Ozawa's party membership following his indictment for violating the political funds control law, until the verdict is finalized.
==Kyodo
2011-08-20 23:33:17
Farm minister Michihiko Kano is willing to run in the ruling Democratic Party of Japan's presidential election to pick a successor to Prime Minister Naoto Kan, sources close to him said Saturday.
Kano will make the final decision after meeting with former DPJ leader Ichiro Ozawa and other party heavyweights early next week, according to the sources.
The DPJ leadership is considering conducting the election on Aug. 29 after holding a panel discussion of the candidates the day before, party sources said. In that case, the new party leader would be named as prime minister in the Diet on Aug. 30, although the schedule is still being decided.
Currently, six DPJ lawmakers, including Kano, are preparing to file for candidacy in the election.
Among them, Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Banri Kaieda announced his intention to run in the race on Friday, while Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda and former Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Sumio Mabuchi have voiced their intention to run.
Former Environment Minister Sakihito Ozawa and Shinji Tarutoko, former chairman of the DPJ's Diet Affairs Committee, have also shown a desire to enter the leadership race.
Former Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara, who is being persuaded by some DPJ lawmakers to run, will make his decision soon.
Kano, agriculture, forestry and fisheries minister, is considered a moderate within the DPJ and will stress the need to maintain party unity.
Regarding the leadership race, former DPJ leaders Yukio Hatoyama and Ichiro Ozawa met Saturday in an apparent bid to reach a common position.
While no details were immediately available about the meeting held at the Diet building, they are believed to have confirmed a plan to cooperate over the leadership contest.
Prime Minister Kan is expected to leave office soon amid plunging public support for his Cabinet.
On Saturday, Hatoyama also met with Noda and Kano, respectively, to compare notes on their views regarding the DPJ leadership race.
While Noda has expressed his readiness to form a grand coalition with the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party and its ally the New Komeito party, and to raise taxes to finance reconstruction following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, he presented a flexible attitude on the issues during the meeting with Hatoyama.
Kano, for his part, sought Hatoyama's support if he runs in the party presidential election.
Mabuchi, meanwhile, suggested on a TV program Saturday that he would lift the suspension of Ichiro Ozawa's party membership if he becomes DPJ president. Former Environment Minister Ozawa and Kaieda have also indicated the same stance over the former party leader.
The DPJ suspended Ichiro Ozawa's party membership following his indictment for violating the political funds control law, until the verdict is finalized.
==Kyodo
2011-08-20 23:33:17
