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Japanese Opposition Party Self-Destructs
Japan's opposition party suffered a fresh humiliation Friday when its leadership resigned en masse over a fake e-mail scandal, handing Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi an uncontested grip on power in his last six months in office.The shakeup at the Democratic Party of Japan marks a new low for a party that was trounced in last September's elections. Party leader Seiji Maehara and his lieutenants stepped down after the party's credibility was torpedoed by one of its own lawmakers, who used a fraudulent e-mail in an apparent attempt to discredit Koizumi's ruling Liberal Democratic Party. "I am sorry I couldn't complete my term as leader," said Maehara, who was six months into a two-year tenure. "It is necessary for my staff to resign ... to regain the people's trust." The party apologized earlier this month after it learned that unfounded allegations were made in Parliament by lawmaker Hisayasu Nagata. He proffered an e-mail that alleged financial links between the son of the ruling party secretary-general and the Internet firm Livedoor Co., which is under investigation for doctored earnings. Nagata, who later admitted he couldn't verify the e-mail's authenticity, said Friday he would give up his seat in Parliament. Friday's resignations mark another retreat for the opposition party, whose gains in parliamentary elections in 2003 and 2004 had many predicting a competitive two-party system would finally mushroom after a half-century of nearly uninterrupted Liberal Democratic Party rule. But the Democratic Party of Japan was trounced in the Sept. 11 elections, with the ruling party scoring a two-thirds majority with its coalition partner. advertising Maehara then emerged as a fresh new face to reverse the party's slide. Instead, he was challenged as inexperienced, criticized for backing policies too close to Koizumi's, and finally ousted over the fake e-mail. "You can't underestimate how serious the damage is that's been done to the DPJ because of this," said Gerald Curtis, a professor of Japanese politics at Columbia University. "Whether they can now move forward, restructure, find a new leadership and a new message, that's to be seen. ... They have their work cut out for them." Koizumi has promised to step down as prime minister in September. Those mentioned as possible successors lag far behind in public support. "The two party system may take a little while longer because of this blunder," said political analyst Shigenori Okazaki. "Many people are disillusioned. They voted for the DJP to see change, and this is what they got." Maehara said he hoped his departure would allow the party to rebuild. "I arrived at my decision to take responsibility as the country's largest opposition party, to win back the public's trust and to achieve the party goal of taking over the government in the next election," he said. Democratic Party of Japan executives will meet Monday to discuss a schedule for picking new leaders. Possible candidates include Naoto Kan, who has twice before served as party leader, and Ichiro Ozawa, a former ruling party member who switched sides and is known for his abrasive leadership style. Koizumi attributed the political debacle to inexperience. "Maehara is still young," he said. "I hope he will play an important role in the future by learning from this experience." Posted by: Anonymoose 2006-04-01 |
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