ID :
60479
Thu, 05/14/2009 - 10:46
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/60479
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Okada, Hatoyama declare candidacies for DPJ leadership election
TOKYO, May 13 Kyodo -
Democratic Party of Japan Vice President Katsuya Okada and Secretary General
Yukio Hatoyama said Wednesday they will run in Saturday's election to succeed
scandal-hit Ichiro Ozawa as president of the main opposition party.
The focus of the race between the two former DPJ chiefs is likely to be on
whether the party will continue to pursue Ozawa's policies, as Hatoyama is
close to Ozawa while Okada is supported by junior and middle-ranking lawmakers
who have maintained a distance from the outgoing leader.
Okada has conveyed his intention to run in the election to Ozawa, who said
Monday he will resign as DPJ president following a fundraising scandal that led
to the indictment of his secretary.
''I have renewed my determination to become president of the DPJ and the leader
of Japan,'' Okada told reporters.
Hatoyama declared his candidacy later in the day during a speech at a meeting
in Tokyo, saying, ''There would be nothing more gratifying than devoting myself
to dealing with the crisis facing the country.''
Hatoyama later told reporters, ''I would like to become the next leader to
enhance the party's openness and transparency,'' adding that such factors were
supposedly somewhat lacking under Ozawa's leadership.
Okada also emphasized that the DPJ needs to be an open party by disclosing
information, saying on a TV program that the party is also aiming to make the
Japanese government more open to the public.
Okada is aiming to make use of his support among the public in the election, a
middle-ranking lawmaker said, with the latest public opinion poll by Kyodo News
showing that Okada is the most popular candidate for DPJ president, followed by
Hatoyama.
On Wednesday, Okada worked to compile his basic policy platform and conveyed
his intention to run in the election to senior party lawmakers including Azuma
Koshiishi, head of the DPJ's House of Councillors caucus, party sources said.
Hatoyama, meanwhile, who is aiming to obtain the support of several groups
including the DPJ's largest faction that backed Ozawa, sought the support of
DPJ Acting President Naoto Kan.
==Kyodo
Democratic Party of Japan Vice President Katsuya Okada and Secretary General
Yukio Hatoyama said Wednesday they will run in Saturday's election to succeed
scandal-hit Ichiro Ozawa as president of the main opposition party.
The focus of the race between the two former DPJ chiefs is likely to be on
whether the party will continue to pursue Ozawa's policies, as Hatoyama is
close to Ozawa while Okada is supported by junior and middle-ranking lawmakers
who have maintained a distance from the outgoing leader.
Okada has conveyed his intention to run in the election to Ozawa, who said
Monday he will resign as DPJ president following a fundraising scandal that led
to the indictment of his secretary.
''I have renewed my determination to become president of the DPJ and the leader
of Japan,'' Okada told reporters.
Hatoyama declared his candidacy later in the day during a speech at a meeting
in Tokyo, saying, ''There would be nothing more gratifying than devoting myself
to dealing with the crisis facing the country.''
Hatoyama later told reporters, ''I would like to become the next leader to
enhance the party's openness and transparency,'' adding that such factors were
supposedly somewhat lacking under Ozawa's leadership.
Okada also emphasized that the DPJ needs to be an open party by disclosing
information, saying on a TV program that the party is also aiming to make the
Japanese government more open to the public.
Okada is aiming to make use of his support among the public in the election, a
middle-ranking lawmaker said, with the latest public opinion poll by Kyodo News
showing that Okada is the most popular candidate for DPJ president, followed by
Hatoyama.
On Wednesday, Okada worked to compile his basic policy platform and conveyed
his intention to run in the election to senior party lawmakers including Azuma
Koshiishi, head of the DPJ's House of Councillors caucus, party sources said.
Hatoyama, meanwhile, who is aiming to obtain the support of several groups
including the DPJ's largest faction that backed Ozawa, sought the support of
DPJ Acting President Naoto Kan.
==Kyodo
