Yasuo Fukuda, new president of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic
Party (LDP), was declared prime minister by the Japanese House of
Representatives, or lower house of the Diet, late Tuesday
afternoon.
The two chambers of the Diet failed to reach a consensus on
their selections of a premier. Under the Japanese Constitution, the
lower house's final decision prevails to be that of the Diet.
In the vote casting held earlier in the afternoon at the lower
house, Fukuda won 338 votes out of the total of 476 valid ballots.
Ichiro Ozawa, leader of the major opposition Democratic Party of
Japan, got 117 ballots.
Ozawa was elected prime minister shortly after by the House of
Councilors, or upper house of the Diet, since the opposition bloc
enjoys the majority there. He obtained 133 votes out of the 239
valid ballots in the second round of voting. The upper house's
first round of voting failed to give a result because no one gained
more than half of the ballots.
The decision of the upper house was actually futile as it
contradicted that of the lower house.
The two chambers procedurally organized a joint committee for
reconciliation, but failed to reach a consensus. The lower house
later declared that Fukuda was elected premier by the
parliament.
Such coordination meeting for the appointment of a premier
hadn't been called in the past nine years. The ruling LDP had been
controlling both houses of the Diet as of July, when it suffered a
crushing defeat in the upper house election and lost the majority
to the opposition bloc.
Fukuda, 71, was actually assured of the premier's post as he was
elected LDP president on Sunday since the ruling party still
controls the majority in the lower house.
The seasoned politician, known for his friendly attitude toward
Asian countries, will be the first Japanese premier whose father,
Takeo Fukuda, used to be on the post.
Fukuda agreed with New Komeito party leader in the morning to
continue the two parties' ruling coalition partnership. He will
form the Cabinet later in the day and lead the Cabinet members to
attend an attestation ceremony at the Imperial Palace.
It is now the common speculation of the Japanese media that the
Cabinet lineup is unlikely to differ from the current one
significantly.
Former Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura will be appointed
chief Cabinet secretary, former Defense Minister Masahiko Komura
will become foreign minister, and former defense agency chief
Shigeru Ishiba will be defense minister, according to
NHK.?
(Xinhua News Agency September 26, 2007)
