ID :
49041
Thu, 03/05/2009 - 07:46
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/49041
The shortlink copeid
Aso relieved as cash handout-related law enacted+
TOKYO, March 4 Kyodo - Embattled Prime Minister Taro Aso on Wednesday overcame a hurdle that had been troubling him for months, as a bill to implement a contentious cash handout plan cleared the Diet with a two-thirds majority in a revote in the House of
Representatives.
Since the 2 trillion yen cash benefit scheme was proposed last October, Aso,
68, has faced criticism as he appeared unable to give a clear answer on what
the scheme was designed for or whether he would accept a payment under it.
''I would like people to use the payments,'' Aso told reporters. ''Now, the
main (fiscal 2009) budget follows and I hope these economic measures can help
stem the economic recession.''
Following the enactment of the law related to a second extra budget for the
current fiscal year through March 31, the cash disbursement plan could commence
as early as Thursday.
Concerning popular former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi who went against
party policy by not casting a ballot in the vote, the Liberal Democratic Party
has decided not to punish him.
LDP Secretary General Hiroyuki Hosoda cited Koizumi's ''contributions to the
party as LDP president'' as a reason for not punishing him.
But political pundits said the party's decision reflects fears that a severe
punishment could provoke a backlash among members dubbed ''Koizumi's children''
and a split in the LDP.
Meanwhile, Hosoda said the party will reprimand another LDP lawmaker, Jiro Ono,
who followed Koizumi. Ono is seen as one of ''Koizumi's children,'' who won
their lower house seats in 2005 under the former prime minister.
''I don't think their actions are a defection or anything,'' Aso told reporters
in the evening.
Koizumi, who will quit politics when the next general election is called, voted
in favor of the bill in the first lower house vote. But he decided to sit out
the revote after Aso made a series of comments against postal privatization,
the pillar of structural reforms spearheaded by Koizumi during his time in
office between 2001 and 2006.
The bill was voted down by the opposition-controlled House of Councillors in
the morning. But the proposed legislation was enacted after approval by a
two-thirds majority in the more powerful lower house in accordance with Japan's
Constitution.
It is not reasonable for the ruling bloc to use ''the two-thirds majority,
which the parties did not obtain by seeking a popular mandate,'' opposition
Social Democratic Party leader Mizuho Fukushima said, calling on Aso to hold a
snap election.
Under the cash handout plan, individuals will receive 12,000 yen and an extra
8,000 yen will be granted to children aged 18 or younger and seniors aged 65 or
older.
Before the revote, the ruling coalition of the LDP and the New Komeito party
decided during an executive meeting Wednesday morning that it will mull
compiling additional economic measures to tackle the deepening recession.
According to sources close to the prime minister, Aso is set to instruct the
ruling camp as early as next week to formulate such large-scale steps, and
submit during the ongoing Diet session through June 3 a supplementary budget
for fiscal 2009 to implement them.
The possible submission of an extra budget is likely to give the unpopular Aso
some leeway before dissolving the lower house for a general election and to
allow him to hold on to power a little longer.
Aso has said he will call an election once the budgets and related bills to
finance his economic measures clear parliament.
It is widely predicted that Aso's LDP, which is suffering from plunging support
rates, will lose the next election to the main opposition Democratic Party of
Japan.
But Tuesday's arrest of a secretary of DPJ leader Ichiro Ozawa over an alleged
fundraising scam could change the LDP's prospects, political analysts said,
although Ozawa argued at a press conference Wednesday that his secretary dealt
with the funds appropriately.
The upper house's Budget Committee will start deliberations Thursday on the
main budget for fiscal 2009 starting April 1.
(Masako Ozaki contributed to this report)
==Kyodo
2009-03-05 00:30:14
Representatives.
Since the 2 trillion yen cash benefit scheme was proposed last October, Aso,
68, has faced criticism as he appeared unable to give a clear answer on what
the scheme was designed for or whether he would accept a payment under it.
''I would like people to use the payments,'' Aso told reporters. ''Now, the
main (fiscal 2009) budget follows and I hope these economic measures can help
stem the economic recession.''
Following the enactment of the law related to a second extra budget for the
current fiscal year through March 31, the cash disbursement plan could commence
as early as Thursday.
Concerning popular former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi who went against
party policy by not casting a ballot in the vote, the Liberal Democratic Party
has decided not to punish him.
LDP Secretary General Hiroyuki Hosoda cited Koizumi's ''contributions to the
party as LDP president'' as a reason for not punishing him.
But political pundits said the party's decision reflects fears that a severe
punishment could provoke a backlash among members dubbed ''Koizumi's children''
and a split in the LDP.
Meanwhile, Hosoda said the party will reprimand another LDP lawmaker, Jiro Ono,
who followed Koizumi. Ono is seen as one of ''Koizumi's children,'' who won
their lower house seats in 2005 under the former prime minister.
''I don't think their actions are a defection or anything,'' Aso told reporters
in the evening.
Koizumi, who will quit politics when the next general election is called, voted
in favor of the bill in the first lower house vote. But he decided to sit out
the revote after Aso made a series of comments against postal privatization,
the pillar of structural reforms spearheaded by Koizumi during his time in
office between 2001 and 2006.
The bill was voted down by the opposition-controlled House of Councillors in
the morning. But the proposed legislation was enacted after approval by a
two-thirds majority in the more powerful lower house in accordance with Japan's
Constitution.
It is not reasonable for the ruling bloc to use ''the two-thirds majority,
which the parties did not obtain by seeking a popular mandate,'' opposition
Social Democratic Party leader Mizuho Fukushima said, calling on Aso to hold a
snap election.
Under the cash handout plan, individuals will receive 12,000 yen and an extra
8,000 yen will be granted to children aged 18 or younger and seniors aged 65 or
older.
Before the revote, the ruling coalition of the LDP and the New Komeito party
decided during an executive meeting Wednesday morning that it will mull
compiling additional economic measures to tackle the deepening recession.
According to sources close to the prime minister, Aso is set to instruct the
ruling camp as early as next week to formulate such large-scale steps, and
submit during the ongoing Diet session through June 3 a supplementary budget
for fiscal 2009 to implement them.
The possible submission of an extra budget is likely to give the unpopular Aso
some leeway before dissolving the lower house for a general election and to
allow him to hold on to power a little longer.
Aso has said he will call an election once the budgets and related bills to
finance his economic measures clear parliament.
It is widely predicted that Aso's LDP, which is suffering from plunging support
rates, will lose the next election to the main opposition Democratic Party of
Japan.
But Tuesday's arrest of a secretary of DPJ leader Ichiro Ozawa over an alleged
fundraising scam could change the LDP's prospects, political analysts said,
although Ozawa argued at a press conference Wednesday that his secretary dealt
with the funds appropriately.
The upper house's Budget Committee will start deliberations Thursday on the
main budget for fiscal 2009 starting April 1.
(Masako Ozaki contributed to this report)
==Kyodo
2009-03-05 00:30:14
