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More pressure on Aso as party member quits
Source: Agencies |
January 14, 2009, Wednesday
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A FORMER Cabinet member quit Japan's ruling party yesterday in a rare defection that reflects growing dissent in its ranks as public support for Prime Minister Taro Aso continues to plummet.
Yoshimi Watanabe said he left the ruling Liberal Democratic Party because its policies were increasingly aimed at maintaining the status quo, not at solving problems.
"Prime Minister Aso's political judgment, which is only based on his desire to hold on to power, is the very problem that is delaying measures on crucial issues," Watanabe said. "I fear that he might invite tragedy to the country and its people."
His departure came just before the parliament voted on budget bills that included a proposal to hand out cash to spur spending. Watanabe and opposition parties fiercely opposed the plan as a waste of money, and polls show most voters against it as well.
Despite their protests, the bills were passed in the lower house - which is dominated by the ruling party - and sent to the opposition-controlled upper house where they face an imminent rejection.
"It was unfortunate," Aso said of Watanabe's departure.
Watanabe is seen by many as a barometer of discontent in the ruling party. He said he did not intend to start a new party, but that there were many within the ranks of the Liberal Democrats who shared his views.
Eiken Itagaki, an independent political analyst and author, said a mass defection was not likely because many politicians depend on the party infrastructure to keep their seats.
"Those that oppose the party openly will be cutting their own throats," he said.
Watanabe, whose father was also a well-known politician, has strong support from voters in his home district so he is less reliant on the party.
But Itagaki said if the next round of elections weakens the party, as is widely expected, more politicians could bolt.
Japan's prime minister has the power to dissolve parliament and call general elections at any time. By law, Aso must call elections by September this year.
He has avoided calling a vote because his support is dropping quickly.
When he rose to power last year his support among voters was close to 50 percent, but that has continued to fall and is now below 20 percent in many polls.
Yoshimi Watanabe said he left the ruling Liberal Democratic Party because its policies were increasingly aimed at maintaining the status quo, not at solving problems.
"Prime Minister Aso's political judgment, which is only based on his desire to hold on to power, is the very problem that is delaying measures on crucial issues," Watanabe said. "I fear that he might invite tragedy to the country and its people."
His departure came just before the parliament voted on budget bills that included a proposal to hand out cash to spur spending. Watanabe and opposition parties fiercely opposed the plan as a waste of money, and polls show most voters against it as well.
Despite their protests, the bills were passed in the lower house - which is dominated by the ruling party - and sent to the opposition-controlled upper house where they face an imminent rejection.
"It was unfortunate," Aso said of Watanabe's departure.
Watanabe is seen by many as a barometer of discontent in the ruling party. He said he did not intend to start a new party, but that there were many within the ranks of the Liberal Democrats who shared his views.
Eiken Itagaki, an independent political analyst and author, said a mass defection was not likely because many politicians depend on the party infrastructure to keep their seats.
"Those that oppose the party openly will be cutting their own throats," he said.
Watanabe, whose father was also a well-known politician, has strong support from voters in his home district so he is less reliant on the party.
But Itagaki said if the next round of elections weakens the party, as is widely expected, more politicians could bolt.
Japan's prime minister has the power to dissolve parliament and call general elections at any time. By law, Aso must call elections by September this year.
He has avoided calling a vote because his support is dropping quickly.
When he rose to power last year his support among voters was close to 50 percent, but that has continued to fall and is now below 20 percent in many polls.
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