POLITICS-JAPAN: Mori Starts His Term on a Handicap

By Suvendrini Kakuchi Reprint | | Print |

Suvendrini Kakuchi

TOKYO, Apr 10 2000 (IPS) - Less than a week in office, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori it seems will spend much of his time trying to prove his critics wrong.

The stocky rugby-playing veteran politician has hardly enjoyed a honeymoon with the Japanese press after being elected last Wednesday to the country’s top post to replace Keizo Obuchi who is lying in a coma after suffering a debilitating stroke.

One national paper described the 62-year-old Mori as “unknown and unpromising”. Critics have blasted his reputation “for speaking publicly with one foot in his mouth”.

A telephone survey conducted by Kyodo News Service showed that 42 per cent of respondents had little expectations from the prime minister, who many say lack charisma.

The tough-talking leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is dubbed ‘Large-Size Cold Pizza’ by some commentators, following the description of Obuchi as called ‘Cold Pizza’ in reference to his laid back style of leadership.

The Kyodo survey showed Mori’s cabinet scored 11 percentage points higher û- 43 percent of those polled gave the thumbs up — than when Obuchi took over first. The entire Obuchi Cabinet was reappointed by Mori upon assuming office.

But political and social commentator, Tetsuo Murobushi, says the initial favourable reaction stems from what is seen as a pressing need to install a leader at a crucial time for Japan, rather than a general acceptance Mori.

“For many people, Mori’s timely election was important just when Japan is enacting crucial economic reforms. There was also the factor that Mori has worked closely with the ailing Obuchi, so he has the sympathy vote as well and is considered a good choice to carry on Obuchi’s reforms at least for the moment,” says Murobushi.

Mori, in his first policy speech on Friday, called his team “a cabinet for the rebirth of Japan” and expressed his wish to make the country “a nation where people live in security and have dreams for the future”.

The Yomuiri Newspaper, Japan’s largest daily, pointed out Saturday that the question of whether the Mori Cabinet will only be a caretaker government depends on whether Mori can demonstrate some “originality” in governance.

If he wants to maintain his regime beyond the Lower House election, he must prove his own mettle, and not just rely on the goodwill of supporters, obervers say.

“It all depends on the polls. If Mori can make hay while the sun shines, the LDP might go ahead with a general election hoping to make a strong showing and reduce its dependence on the coalition,” says Murobushi.

The ruling coalition, dominated by the LDP and includes a small conservative party, Jiyuto, and the New Komeito Party, has received low approval ratings from the public.

Against this mood, which some say warrants a change in the situation, the Japanese media reports that the LDP might call for a snap general election in June.

The LDP, however, is keeping the public guessing. Senior LDP official Hiromi Nonaka said Mori was is no hurry to call elections, preferring instead to attend to more important issues needing his attention.

One is the July G-8 Summit which Japan will host in Okinawa.

Mori is reported to have called Canadian leader Jean Chretien on Saturday and was preparing to visit Washington to seek support for the success of the Summit.

Inexperienced in foreign affairs, Mori spent his first few days in office soaking in international relations, making an effort to reach out particularly to Japan’s neighbours.

Mori called South Korean president Kim Dae Jung on Saturday, repeating an invitation for him to visit Japan and also met briefly with Chinese Communist Party Official Zeng Qinghong, also repeating an invitation for an early visit by Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji.

In his speech before Parliament on Friday, Mori pledged to work for peace in the region as well closer ties with its Asian neighbours. “While making Japan-U.S. relations as the axis, our country needs to make further diplomatic efforts to create peace in Asia, particularly in Northeast Asia.”

Commenting on the planned summit between South and North Korea, Mori said the June meeting will “be good for peace in Asia”. But he called it a “separate issue” from Tokyo’s ongoing dialogue with Pyongyang aimed at normalising relations.

Mori will also be meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin later this month where he said he plans to have a “frank exchange”.

“Mori’s expertise is in domestic politics. He has hardly voiced his opinions about new relationships with other countries. Unless he comes up with opinions on this front, the government is definitely heading to become an interim one,” says economist Mariko Kontani.

Non-governmental organizations, on the other hand, want to hear Japan announce its position on the issue of forgiving debt owed to rich countries by the world’s poorest countries. But they say Mori is no authority in this respect.

The ‘Yomiuri Shimbun’ noted that if there is one characteristic that defines the Mori administration, it is its zeal for educational reform. In his Friday speech, Mori, who served as education minister under the Nakazone Cabinet, made clear his intention to promote educational reform into a popular campaign and said “education should be aimed at fostering honorable persons rich in creativity”.

Yet, this too, opines the Yomiuri, is “abstract and can hardly be considered a vision for educational reform”.

Indeed, in his first week in office, Japan’s new prime minister is struggling to prove his worth.

POLITICS-JAPAN: Mori Starts His Term on a Handicap

By Suvendrini Kakuchi Reprint | | Print |

Suvendrini Kakuchi

TOKYO, Apr 10 2000 (IPS) - Less than a week in office, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori it seems will spend much of his time trying to prove his critics wrong.
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