Japanese PM calls for snap poll

[Eugene]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4130456.stm

Last Updated: Monday, 8 August 2005, 06:35 GMT 07:35 UK

Japanese PM calls for snap poll

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has lost a crucial vote on
plans to reform the huge postal system.

After the 125-108 defeat, Mr Koizumi said he would dissolve parliament
and call a snap election - a move which the cabinet now needs to
approve.

The Upper House vote was a huge blow to Mr Koizumi, who had staked his
political reputation on the issue.

The reforms would have transformed Japan Post, with its $3 trillion
assets, into the world's largest bank.

more...

[necso]

1. A little more.

"Media reports indicate that Mr Koizumi could bar those who voted against him from running on the LDP ticket in the September poll."

"Those LDP members who voted against the postal bill are said to be angry that Mr Koizumi has called for an election, rather than offering his resignation."

"The LDP has seen a slow decline in popularity over the last few years, and Mr Koizumi's coalition partners - and even some within his own party - did not want him to call an election they fear they could lose."

A party leader who would weaken his party (and coalition) in this way because of his personal investment in a dubious scheme (like this so-called "reform" of the Japanese Postal System) proves himself no longer suitable for leadership.

Mr Koizumi should go.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Japanese Leader Dissolves Parliament, Call Elections in Wake of Reform Def

Japanese leader dissolves parliament and calls elections
08/08/2005 - 13:49:05

Japan’s upper house of Parliament voted down legislation to split up and sell the country’s postal service today, prompting Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to follow through on a threat to call snap elections that could shake the ruling party’s grip on power.

Defections from Koizumi’s own Liberal Democratic Party helped defeat the reform package by a 125-108 vote, dealing a painful setback to the prime minister’s longtime quest to privatise the postal savings and insurance businesses and open their massive deposits to private investors.

Koizumi called an emergency Cabinet meeting, and ministers – with one dissenting vote – decided to dissolve the lower house of Parliament, Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura said. The order was later read before the lower house at a specially called session, after which the disbanded MPs filed out of the chamber.

“The upper house decided that postal privatisation is not needed. So I would like to ask the general public whether it supports or opposes it. That’s why I dissolved Parliament,” Koizumi told a group of reporters after the dissolution was announced. “I will do my best to win the elections so that I can continue the reforms.”
(snip/...)

http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story.asp?j=151942496&p=y5y943zxz

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Art_from_Ark]

3. Speaking as one with deposits in the Japanese postal system, I say

If it ain't broke, don't "fix" it!

I've really got to wonder why Koizumi is making this a "make or break" issue-- espeically since the newspaper polls show an almost even three-way split of For-Against-Don't Care

[K-W]

6. Whats to wonder about, it works the same way in the U.S.

Public opinion does not determine economic or foriegn policy, the opinions of elites determine policy, the people are lucky if they get to weigh in every now and again. And if by some chance a part of the government sides with the people, the elites turn to tricks.

[GracieM]

5. Richard Gere look alike?

Anyone?

[Judi Lynn]

9. Uh, oh! You may be onto something.....

Very perceptive!

[GracieM]

10. Twins I tell you

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Asia Times (Monday): Koizumi commits political suicide

From the Asia Times
Dated Monday August 8

Koizumi commits political suicide
By J Sean Curtin

After weeks of fierce political infighting within the governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Japan's Upper House of parliament has decisively rejected the flagship postal privatization bills of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, by 125 to 108 votes.

Even though the LDP and its coalition partner, New Komeito, hold a majority in the 242-seat upper chamber, many members of the fractious LDP joined the opposition to vote down the crucial bills, which were a vital component of Koizumi's reform program.

The humiliating defeat led Koizumi to call a snap general election, probably for September 11, which opinion polls indicate the LDP will find extremely difficult to win, and may herald a seismic shift in Japanese politics. The failure of the postal bills also probably marks the end of Koizumi's political career. Even if the LDP retains power, the desperately divided party is highly unlikely to re-nominate a prime minister who attempted political suicide.

Koizumi is believed to have called the election to test the public's view of his administration. LDP sources said the party would not endorse party members who voted against the bills, a move that may force rebels to form their own party.

Read more.

The article notes that the September election is likely to place power in the hands of the centrist/liberal Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ).

[Art_from_Ark]

7. Don't count on the DPJ winning

They and their predecessors have only won one meaningful election since 1955. Their predecessor had an excellent chance of winning in 1989 and blew it. More recently, the DPJ had a good chance of winning a couple of years ago, but blew it because, among other things, they did not have much of a platform. Of course, it also helps that the election districts are so screwed up here, there might be two or three winners in one district (with at least one LDPer guaranteed a win). The local LDP representative has been in office it seems like forever, and no doubt he'll be re-elected again.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Centrist/liberal parties

We are all too familiar with a certain centrist/liberal party in America that has developed in recent years a nasty habit of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

You're right: it's no sure thing.