TOKYO, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister
Shinzo Abe announced his resignation Wednesday afternoon, two days after the
opening of an extraordinary session of parliament and less than a month after
his Cabinet reshuffle.
LAST
STRAW
Plagued by a series of scandals involving his Cabinet
ministers, Abe has been repeatedly urged to resign, especially after his ruling
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) suffered a crushing defeat in July's upper house
election.
The dim hope that the parliament would pass the
extension of a law authorizing Japan to provide support for U.S.-led
anti-terrorism operations seemed to be the last straw.
At a press conference held at his office, the prime
minister said he quitted "to have the war against terror continued," because as
long as he holds the post, opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) leader
Ichiro Ozawa would not agree to talk over the issue.
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Japanese Prime Shinzo Abe speaks during
a press conference in Tokyo, Japan, Sept. 12, 2007. Abe offered his
resignation on Sept. 12 at a press conference held at his office, less
than a month after he reshuffled the Cabinet following a crushing defeat
in parliamentary election.(Xinhua Photo)
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"I must bring change to the current situation by
stepping down, because unfortunately today a meeting with the opposition leader
could not be realized," he said, adding that it would be better to have a new
prime minister pursue the matter.
The special anti-terrorism law, first enacted in
October 2001 and extended three times, expires on Nov. 1.
On Sunday, Abe hinted at resignation after a meeting
of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Sydney, saying he would not
"cling to his duties" as prime minister if he cannot have the parliament agree
to the extension of the refueling mission by Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels
in the Indian Ocean.
During a 62-day extraordinary Diet session which
started Monday, the ruling bloc is expected to fight an uphill battle to have
the law extended, as the DPJ now holds majority votes in the House of Councilors
after the July election and has reiterated its opposition to the extension.
Abe, who took office last September, chose to flee
from the battle because his administration has become increasingly unpopular
with the people and the LDP lacks cohesion, analysts said.
ATTACKS FROM
OPPOSITION
On Aug. 27, Abe reshuffled the Cabinet and replaced
members with veteran politicians to regain public trust.
However, in less than a week, new farm minister
Takehiko Endo resigned over a scandal involving a farmers' group led by him.
Internal affairs minister Hiroya Masuda on Saturday admitted an error in his own
political fund report.
In the first Cabinet formed by Abe, four ministers
resigned and one committed suicide over money scandals and various gaffs.
Although it was expected, Abe's resignation surprised
many politicians both in the ruling and opposition camps because of its timing.
Ozawa said he has never heard of a prime minister
stepping down immediately after delivering a policy speech at the parliament.
DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama said Abe should
have quit right after the failure in the election of the House of Councilors,
adding that it was inappropriate for him to resign two days after he attended a
key summit abroad.
Japanese Communist Party leader Kazuo Shii said an
election for the House of Representatives should be held.
Abe's resignation, right after he made a policy
speech, was irresponsible, he said.
Social Democratic Party leader Mizuho Fukushima said
it was "childish" if Abe decided to resign because Ozawa turned down his request
to hold talks.
UNCERTAINTY TO DOMESTIC
POLITICS
The extraordinary Diet session is the first meeting
between the ruling bloc and opposition parties since the July election, with
each side holding majority in one chamber of the parliament.
Abe's resignation at the opening of a major political
wrestling not only puts the LDP at an disadvantage, but also inevitably brings
uncertainty to Japan's domestic politics, analysts said.
The LDP could no longer force a bill through the
parliament as it did when holding a majority in both houses.
The opposition can reject or revise a bill sponsored
by the government and passed by the lower house, where a majority is held by the
ruling party.
Even though the lower house can pass again and enact
a bill rejected by the upper house, the LDP would be acting against more public
criticism.
Ozawa said Wednesday afternoon that his party will
continue its policy against the extension of the law and work toward an early
dismissal of the lower house and general election.
On Sept. 19, the LDP is scheduled to hold an election
to select a new party leader, who will also become the new prime minister.
It can be expected that Abe's successor would have to
deal with the problems left by him: how to gather public confidence and have the
extension of the law passed.
If the new leader cannot win the battle against the
opposition, a reversal of the whole political landscape in Japan is also
possible, analysts said.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe resigns
TOKYO, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe offered his resignation Wednesday, less than a month after he reshuffled the Cabinet following a crushing defeat in parliamentary election.
"I made my determination today to step down," Abe told a press conference held at his office. Full story
