Miyazaki Gov. Higashikokubaru willing to run in election+

TOKYO, June 24 Kyodo -
Popular Miyazaki Gov. Hideo Higashikokubaru on Wednesday expressed willingness
to run in the upcoming general election, saying he is ''serious'' about his
bold condition for accepting the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's request for
him to run.

''I will go into national politics for the sake of Miyazaki,'' Higashikokubaru
told reporters, reiterating the condition that he would only run on the LDP
ticket if the party decides to list him as a candidate for party president.
On the condition, the comedian-turned-politician said, ''I would not be
president after Prime Minister Taro Aso. I will be the face of the lower house
election as one of the candidates for (LDP) president,'' adding, ''I am very
serious. I'm not fooling around or making a fool of (the LDP).''
On Tuesday, LDP Election Strategy Council Chairman Makoto Koga visited the
Miyazaki prefectural government office and asked Higashikokubaru to run in the
House of Representatives election, which must be held by the fall.
When asked about what he would do if the main opposition Democratic Party of
Japan takes power while he runs for the LDP, Higashikokubaru said, ''It can't
be helped if (the LDP) becomes an opposition party. I will check the politics
of the DPJ.''
Meanwhile, some LDP lawmakers criticized Koga for making the offer.
House of Councillors lawmaker Kazuya Maruyama said at a meeting of LDP upper
house lawmakers, ''Asking him to 'help' because the party lacks energy already
represents (the party's) defeat.'' He was referring to Koga's remark that the
LDP made the offer because public confidence in the party has eroded and the
party needs ''new energy'' to reform itself.
''We should pursue Mr. Koga's responsibility. He can resign immediately,''
Maruyama said.
Former Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Kunio Hatoyama said he
believes that Higashikokubaru was not joking when he made the condition. But he
added, ''It feels like the LDP was looked down on'' or that the governor was
taking unfair advantage of the LDP.
==Kyodo