TOKYO, Sept 23: Japan’s ruling party on Sunday chose centrist political veteran Yasuo Fukuda as the country’s next prime minister, seeking safe hands after a disastrous year under conservative Shinzo Abe.
Mr Fukuda, 71, a dour-looking behind-the-scenes operator who openly admits he lacks charisma, easily fended off a challenge from hawkish former foreign minister Taro Aso in the race to lead the world’s second largest economy.
Wearing his usual grey suit, Mr Fukuda bowed before members of his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which he acknowledged was facing “huge difficulties.”
“I want the LDP to be born again so it regains the public trust and is able to steadfastly carry out policies,” Mr Fukuda said.
Mr Fukuda quickly reached out to the opposition, which won control of one house of parliament in a landmark election victory in July and vowed to press the incoming prime minister to call a snap general poll.
Holding a news conference later on Sunday, Mr Fukuda called for dialogue with the opposition on extending a naval mission supporting US-led forces in Afghanistan, an issue on which Mr Abe had staked his job.
Mr Fukuda will be Japan’s oldest prime minister on entering office since 1991, a stark contrast to the 53-year-old Mr Abe, who was Japan’s youngest leader
in recent times and faced criticism that he was too inexperienced.
“Although I haven’t assessed all of the details, I wonder if people think that I’m a bit stable or old enough that I’m not going to do something strange,” Mr Fukuda said.Mr Abe, an outspoken conservative who campaigned to build a “beautiful nation” freed from legacies of World War II defeat, abruptly resigned September 12 amid scandals, sliding approval ratings and opposition intransigence on the Afghan mission.
Mr Abe, who was considered a bright young face for the LDP when he took over a year ago this week, checked himself into a hospital after his resignation for treatment of extreme stress and exhaustion.Mr Abe pledged to stand behind Mr Fukuda, whose views on issues ranging from North Korea to wartime history are more centrist than the outgoing leader’s.
“I apologise to party members and especially to all the Japanese people that I created this political vacuum after I announced my resignation at such an important time,” Mr Abe said in a letter read to the LDP meeting.
Mr Abe may re-emerge Monday to hold a final news conference at his hospital, said his government’s spokesman Kaoru Yosano.Analysts say the LDP wanted a respite from the ideologically driven Mr Abe and his predecessor Junichiro Koizumi, who won elections through his flamboyant style but spearheaded free-market reforms unpopular in the countryside.
“Fukuda is not charismatic but he is being viewed as a safe pair of hands,” said Robert Dujarric, director of Temple University’s Institute of Contemporary Japanese Studies.
“They know he’s not going to be totally incompetent.” Mr Fukuda, a former oilman and top aide to premiers, received 330 votes among party members against 197 for Mr Aso, the party announced. One vote was invalid.
The vote by LDP lawmakers and local officials made Mr Fukuda party president.—AFP
