Abe Named New Japanese Prime Minister
TOKYO — Japan has a new prime minister. The Diet (parliament) on Wednesday selected Shinzo Abe to again lead the country after his Liberal Democratic Party scored a solid comeback in elections this month. That ends a three-year stay in power for the Democratic Party of Japan.
With the conservatives holding a solid majority in the more powerful 480-seat lower house, there was no doubt former prime minister Abe would again be chosen to lead Japan.
After the official tally was announced - Abe garnering 328 votes while his closest challenger, former industry and transport minister Banri Kaieda of the Democratic Party (DPJ), receiving 57 votes, the LDP leader is declared elected as prime minister.
Minutes later, in a runoff in the upper house, Abe also bested the DPJ competitor 107 to 96.
Japan has now seen seven prime ministers since 2007.
Japan's newly-named Prime Minsiter Shinzo Abe smiles as he waves at the media upon his arrival at the prime minister's official residence following his election at Parliament in Tokyo, Dec. 26, 2012.xJapan's newly-named Prime Minsiter Shinzo Abe smiles as he waves at the media upon his arrival at the prime minister's official residence following his election at Parliament in Tokyo, Dec. 26, 2012.
Abe succeeds Yoshihiko Noda whose fate was sealed after the DPJ lost its control of the lower house in elections earlier this month.
The events mark a stunning comeback for Abe, a third-generation politician, who suddenly resigned as prime minister five years ago amid declining popularity.
Abe says medication is effectively treating the inflammatory bowel disease that compelled him to step aside just short of one year in office in 2007.
There were five prime ministers in between Abe's previous departure and his return to the post Wednesday.
Abe, speaking just hours before lawmakers placed him back in his old job, vowed a new era devoid of cronyism ready to solve the problems confronting Japan.
Abe says the LDP has changed and is no longer the party it once was. He says Japan faces many difficulties and the party leadership will undoubtedly have to deal with many issues, but with his previous experience he is confident of running his new government in a stable manner.
His cabinet will face daunting challenges that the DPJ failed to tackle. The Democrats came to power three years ago, amid a prolonged economic decline, after the electorate voted out the scandal-ridden LDP which has governed the country for most of the period since World War II.
Abe's return is being viewed cautiously in East Asia. That is due to his tough talk regarding Japan's worsening territorial disputes with its neighbors, his desire to strengthen Japan's defense forces and unapologetic views on the country's 20th century harsh colonization of part of China and the whole of the Korean peninsula.
Abe's key Cabinet appointments are giving some clues to the direction he plans to take.
His new defense minister is Itsunori Onodera, senior vice foreign minister during Abe's previous administration.
Fumio Kishida is the new foreign minister. He has previous Cabinet experience dealing with Okinawa where there is widespread discontent over the long-stalled relocation of a U.S. Marine Corps air station.
To push through a $120 billion dollar public works and other emergency stimulus spending plan, Abe has selected former prime minister Taro Aso to take finance portfolios and also serve as deputy prime minister. fuente. La Voz de América, http://www.voanews.com/content/japan-lawmakers-return-hawkish-shinzo-abe-to-power/1572235.html
With the conservatives holding a solid majority in the more powerful 480-seat lower house, there was no doubt former prime minister Abe would again be chosen to lead Japan.
After the official tally was announced - Abe garnering 328 votes while his closest challenger, former industry and transport minister Banri Kaieda of the Democratic Party (DPJ), receiving 57 votes, the LDP leader is declared elected as prime minister.
Minutes later, in a runoff in the upper house, Abe also bested the DPJ competitor 107 to 96.
Japan has now seen seven prime ministers since 2007.
Japan's newly-named Prime Minsiter Shinzo Abe smiles as he waves at the media upon his arrival at the prime minister's official residence following his election at Parliament in Tokyo, Dec. 26, 2012.xJapan's newly-named Prime Minsiter Shinzo Abe smiles as he waves at the media upon his arrival at the prime minister's official residence following his election at Parliament in Tokyo, Dec. 26, 2012.
Abe succeeds Yoshihiko Noda whose fate was sealed after the DPJ lost its control of the lower house in elections earlier this month.
The events mark a stunning comeback for Abe, a third-generation politician, who suddenly resigned as prime minister five years ago amid declining popularity.
Abe says medication is effectively treating the inflammatory bowel disease that compelled him to step aside just short of one year in office in 2007.
There were five prime ministers in between Abe's previous departure and his return to the post Wednesday.
Abe, speaking just hours before lawmakers placed him back in his old job, vowed a new era devoid of cronyism ready to solve the problems confronting Japan.
Abe says the LDP has changed and is no longer the party it once was. He says Japan faces many difficulties and the party leadership will undoubtedly have to deal with many issues, but with his previous experience he is confident of running his new government in a stable manner.
His cabinet will face daunting challenges that the DPJ failed to tackle. The Democrats came to power three years ago, amid a prolonged economic decline, after the electorate voted out the scandal-ridden LDP which has governed the country for most of the period since World War II.
Abe's return is being viewed cautiously in East Asia. That is due to his tough talk regarding Japan's worsening territorial disputes with its neighbors, his desire to strengthen Japan's defense forces and unapologetic views on the country's 20th century harsh colonization of part of China and the whole of the Korean peninsula.
Abe's key Cabinet appointments are giving some clues to the direction he plans to take.
His new defense minister is Itsunori Onodera, senior vice foreign minister during Abe's previous administration.
Fumio Kishida is the new foreign minister. He has previous Cabinet experience dealing with Okinawa where there is widespread discontent over the long-stalled relocation of a U.S. Marine Corps air station.
To push through a $120 billion dollar public works and other emergency stimulus spending plan, Abe has selected former prime minister Taro Aso to take finance portfolios and also serve as deputy prime minister. fuente. La Voz de América, http://www.voanews.com/content/japan-lawmakers-return-hawkish-shinzo-abe-to-power/1572235.html
Comentarios