Word: aso
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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Liberal Democratic Party leader Taro Aso became Japan's 59th prime minister after sweeping a Sept. 24 vote in Parliament. His chief order of business will be to restore public confidence in the LDP as the party that can lead the nation out of recession and restore economic growth. But his first job will be to stay in office long enough to make a difference...
They might soon have their chance. Aso is expected to dissolve the Parliament's Lower House and call for a general election by the end of October, a move that would allow the LDP to capitalize on Aso's popularity and the honeymoon period that new prime ministers often enjoy. But it would also open the door for DPJ members to gain seats in Parliament. The DPJ has made a career out of being the naysayer opposition party to the LDP, and has recently had some success in eroding public support for its political rival, capitalizing on issues like...
...growing strength and the LDP's past failures have some believing that Aso's party could lose a general election outright. "If my guess is right, then Aso will be the prime minister with the shortest time in office," says Axel Klein. He says that in the race against the "uncharismatic" Fukuda last year, Aso showed himself to have a "very difficult character." Says Takao Toshikawa, political analyst and editor of political newsletter Tokyo Insideline: "This controversial general election will be an actual competition...
Media and political experts chide Aso, a former foreign minister, as too hawkish, gruff and outspoken. In the past, he put his foot in his mouth by saying that "even Alzheimer's patients" could tell that rice was more expensive in China, and in response to China's criticism of former Prime Minister Koizumi's visit to Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine (considered by some to be a symbol of Japan's wartime aggression) he told China "to keep quiet". His political gaffes make headlines, make LDP members cringe and, in the past, have strained ties with China. But Aso...
...even with a new face as prime minister, Japan's old problems remain. Aso says he will focus on the country's fragile economy - Japan's budget deficit totals about 170% of GDP, by far the highest among developed economies. Meanwhile, the country's growth is threatened by a global slowdown and slipped into negative territory from April to June 2008. At a press conference on Friday, Aso said that he's proud of the fact that the Japanese economy is relatively sound and that Japan didn't participate in the "money game" that led to the troubles now faced...