Word: tanaka
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...move that startled ordinary citizens and politicians alike, the leadership of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party last week selected a little-known veteran politician, former Deputy Premier Takeo Miki, 67, as its president. When the Japanese Diet convenes this week for a special session at which Kakuei Tanaka will formally resign as Premier, the L.D.P. majority will ensure the election of Miki as Japan's twelfth postwar head of government...
...speculation that followed Tanaka's announcement that he would resign as Premier, Miki was barely even considered a dark horse. It was widely assumed that only two L.D.P. elders, both with the backing of strong factions within the party, had a chance of succeeding Tanaka: Finance Minister Masayoshi Ohira, 64, who enjoyed the outgoing Premier's support, and former Finance Minister Takeo Fukuda, 69. Although he had previously been a candidate for the premiership, Miki (see box following page) could count on the backing of only a minor bloc within the party. Moreover, he had the reputation...
...selection of either Fukuda or Ohira might fatally split the L.D.P., ending its 25-year domination of Japanese politics. Shiina was also aware that the public had become seriously disillusioned by factional bickering within the party and by the still unrefuted charges of illicit financial dealings that drove Tanaka from office...
...signified that he was willing. Fukuda and Ohira, however, insisted that they would first have to consult with members of their factions before consenting. As the news of Shiina's recommendation spread through the party, support for Miki snowballed, and eventually all the party leaders fell into line. Tanaka probably summed up their feelings best when he said: "If ever the party needed unity, this is the time...
Confronting these tasks, Miki at least will have a larger popular following than Tanaka, whose rating in the polls this autumn fell to 16%. Additionally, as the first Premier in years to be chosen without the usual factional squabbles within the L.D.P., Miki may be able to reduce intraparty bickering...