Yosano dismisses speculation he might succeed Aso+

TOKYO, Feb. 26 Kyodo -
Finance Minister Kaoru Yosano, who is now at the helm of the nation's economic
policies, on Thursday played down speculation that he may replace unpopular
Prime Minister Taro Aso in the near future.
''I have never thought about it. Please don't talk about it,'' Yosano said in
an interview with Kyodo News and other news organizations when he was asked
about the possibility of succeeding Aso. ''I am just dedicated to my own job,''
he said.
Yosano's presence in Japanese political circles has significantly increased
since he took over the posts of finance minister and financial services
minister last week from his predecessor Shoichi Nakagawa, who quit in disgrace
over his erratic behavior at a press conference in Rome following a Group of
Seven financial meeting.
The 70-year-old politician now holds triple ministerial posts to oversee the
country's economic policy planning, fiscal policies and the supervision of
financial institutions.
While the support rate for Aso's Cabinet has fallen to historically low levels
of around 10 percent, Yosano has won plaudits even from opposition party
members as being highly competent.
He ran unsuccessfully in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's presidential
race last September, being defeated by Aso.
The LDP president doubles as premier due to the majority held by the LDP and
its junior coalition partner, the New Komeito party, in the more powerful House
of Representatives.
==Kyodo
2009-02-26 22:29:05