Photographers are pictured in front of posters of Democratic Party politicians
Posted on 08/30/2009 1:27:58 PM PDT by bruinbirdman
Japan's Democratic Party has won a resounding general election victory, surpassing the 241 seats required for a majority less than two-and-a-half hours after polling stations closed.
The outgoing Liberal Democratic Party had just 57 of the 480 seats being contested and Taro Aso, the prime minister, said he would resign as party leader to take responsibility for the debacle.
Photographers are pictured in front of posters of Democratic Party politicians
"The result of the election is very severe," he said in a press conference in Tokyo. "I believe this is the judgement of the public and we have to accept that and reflect on what we did.
"The people have shown their disappointment with the party and I have to accept that as my destiny."
"I think I should take responsibility for the defeat," said Mr Aso. "I will serves as leader of the party until a new leader is chosen."
Mr Aso may have held on to his own constituency, but some very senior members of the LDP are among those who have their seats. They include former Foreign Minister Taro Nakayama and Shoichi Nakagawa, who resigned as finance minister in February after appearing apparently drunk at a G-8 press conference in Italy.
The mood at the LDP's headquarters was in stark contrast to the scenes of celebration at the DPJ's offices.
Senior members of the party have already been informally allocated cabinet positions and Yukio Hatoyama, the incoming prime minister said the party would immediately start work on an extra budget to restructure the current government's last stimulus package.
"I am thankful for the support shown by the public," he said. "Looking at the situation so far, I feel extremely grateful.
"I think that the public has felt an extreme sense of
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Ping
I don’t understand... the ruling party for the last 60 years was known as the “Liberal Democrat Party” of Japan, but they’re known as “Conservative.” The new party is “left of center,” but they’re known as the “Democratic Party of Japan.”
In the context of American politics, are the new party members liberal or conservative? From my reading, they all seem to be left of center, but the new party is farther left than the existing. Is that correct?
Any Japanese FReepers?
Bump
“Liberal,” outside of North America, most often means pro-business and somewhat more pro-individual. It’s the classical meaning of the term.
It’s we who have the convoluted usage. There’s nothing “liberal” at all, about totalitarianism. Except, perhaps, the societal breakdown these would-be revolutionaries encourage via popular acceptance, of all forms of licentiousness. But, that’s libertine, not liberal.
From The Times:
Japanese government crushed in election rout
"By the early hours of Monday morning, the DPJ was heading towards a total of about 310 seats in the lower house of the Diet, compared with about 120 for the LDP. The result will allow the Democrats to dominate the new parliament and to push through their agenda of increased welfare spending, reduced public works, better relations with China and a more detached relationship with the United States."
yitbos
they promise to cut taxes while spending more... every family promised a monthly stipend to have a kid.
It is fairly hopeless to try and make direct comparisons to the US political system. The LDP was behind pushing for tax increases and more public stimulus spending, while the Democratic Party was opposed. In other ways the LDP was more “conservative.” The LDP itself was broken up into factions which were formally recognized in the Japanese Diet itself. The incoming Democratic Party of Japan is led by a breakaway faction from the LDP.
Sounds like Bush's child tax credit.
Cut taxes, money for children, and chicken yakitori for all!
free Ramen!!! yay
they want to encourage a baby boom it sounds like. Not a bad idea really.
Ramen the noodle guy?
.....Any Japanese FReepers?....
ping
I guess, he was imprisoned for putting his noodle where it does not belong
//sarc
you forgot ronin
Well that’s a mischmosch which defies American ideas of the left-right political spectrum.
Is the party coming to power more nationalist in nature?
There is a very strong and growing current in Japan to reassert itself as a world power, one less reliant on the US. I look forward to the commentary on this matter.
Maybe more "Hopey, changey", populist, promise them stuff like The Obammunist.
From New Zealand Herald:
"The Democrats have embraced a more populist platform, promising handouts for families with children and farmers, a higher minimum wage, and to rebuild the economy.
"The nation is very angry with the ruling party, and we are grateful for their deep support," Hatoyama said after the polls closed. "We will not be arrogant and we will listen to the people."
The Democrats have also said they will seek a more independent relationship with Washington, while forging closer ties with Japan's Asian neighbours, including China."
yitbos
ping
He's Chinese.
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