This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7628495.stm
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Japan party set to choose new PM | Japan party set to choose new PM |
(about 6 hours later) | |
Members of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) are meeting to vote for a new leader to replace outgoing Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda. | |
The winner will become the country's third prime minister in two years - and is expected to call a general election almost immediately. | The winner will become the country's third prime minister in two years - and is expected to call a general election almost immediately. |
There are five candidates in the race, but former foreign minister Taro Aso is the favourite to win. | |
The LDP has governed Japan almost continuously since 1955. | The LDP has governed Japan almost continuously since 1955. |
But the main opposition Democratic Party (DPJ) made big gains in recent elections and controls the upper house of parliament. | But the main opposition Democratic Party (DPJ) made big gains in recent elections and controls the upper house of parliament. |
The political deadlock caused by the opposition's popularity eventually forced Mr Fukuda to resign after less than a year in the job. | The political deadlock caused by the opposition's popularity eventually forced Mr Fukuda to resign after less than a year in the job. |
Economy worries | Economy worries |
He had become prime minister after his predecessor, Shinzo Abe, abruptly resigned citing health reasons. | He had become prime minister after his predecessor, Shinzo Abe, abruptly resigned citing health reasons. |
America is facing a financial crisis... we must not allow that to bring us down as well Taro Aso LDP race: The candidates Profile: Taro Aso | America is facing a financial crisis... we must not allow that to bring us down as well Taro Aso LDP race: The candidates Profile: Taro Aso |
The BBC's Chris Hogg, in Tokyo, says the resignations have led critics to complain that the party is out of touch and lacks a proper mandate to govern. | The BBC's Chris Hogg, in Tokyo, says the resignations have led critics to complain that the party is out of touch and lacks a proper mandate to govern. |
The LDP's recent slump in popularity has led some to suggest that the party could be on the verge of losing power - an almost unthinkable prospect for most of the past 50 years. | The LDP's recent slump in popularity has led some to suggest that the party could be on the verge of losing power - an almost unthinkable prospect for most of the past 50 years. |
Our correspondent says there is little doubt that the LDP will select Mr Aso as its leader. | Our correspondent says there is little doubt that the LDP will select Mr Aso as its leader. |
Newspaper polls have suggested that Mr Aso has secured two thirds of the votes from the party chapters and has the support of 60% of law makers. | |
Mr Aso, a former foreign minister, pledged to a crowd of supporters in Tokyo that he would sort out Japan's economy. | |
"America is facing a financial crisis... we must not allow that to bring us down as well," he said. | "America is facing a financial crisis... we must not allow that to bring us down as well," he said. |
Bad old days? | |
The 68-year-old veteran is promising greater public spending to try to stimulate the economy - particularly in rural areas, where the party is traditionally strong. | The 68-year-old veteran is promising greater public spending to try to stimulate the economy - particularly in rural areas, where the party is traditionally strong. |
But one of his rivals for the leadership, Kaoru Yosano, accused him of risking Japan's long-term interests through wasteful spending. | But one of his rivals for the leadership, Kaoru Yosano, accused him of risking Japan's long-term interests through wasteful spending. |
Other colleagues fear higher spending could mark a return to the old profligate ways of the LDP, where expensive public works projects were used to try to create jobs, hollowing out the public finances. | Other colleagues fear higher spending could mark a return to the old profligate ways of the LDP, where expensive public works projects were used to try to create jobs, hollowing out the public finances. |
Mr Aso, a brash straight-talker, is seen as an antidote to the reserved style of Mr Fukuda. If selected, Mr Aso would become Japan's first Catholic prime minister. | Mr Aso, a brash straight-talker, is seen as an antidote to the reserved style of Mr Fukuda. If selected, Mr Aso would become Japan's first Catholic prime minister. |
This is his fourth attempt to win the leadership of the LDP. | |
The other candidates include Yuriko Koike, who is seeking to be Japan's first female leader. | The other candidates include Yuriko Koike, who is seeking to be Japan's first female leader. |
Former defence chief Shigeru Ishiba and young reformist Nobuteru Ishihara are also in the running. | Former defence chief Shigeru Ishiba and young reformist Nobuteru Ishihara are also in the running. |
A total of 527 LDP members can vote - 386 MPs and 141 members of regional chapters. |