Prime Minister Kan Naoto has just spoken to an assembly of the Democratic Party of Japan. While acknowledging his faults, he seemed to urge his fellow party members to vote againt the no confidence motion. Former prime minister Hatoyama spoke next, and seemed to be saying that he tried to tell the PM, in a 30 minute conversation, to resign for the good of the party and the country. "Unfortunately" he said more than once, he was not successful. Haraguchi Kazuhiro spoke next and urged the PM to think about the children of the region around the destroyed nuclear power station.
And all during this, NHK has up in the corner, "Prime Minister Kan indicates that he will resign."
What am I missing here?
Later - I have no seen the replay of the conclusion of the PM's speech and he does indeed ask for the members of his party to reject the no confidence motion...and NHK still has "Prime Minister Kan indicates that he will resign" up in the top left corner
Seriously, hello! I'm still trying to figure this one out as well. Ozawa's had his sights set on removing the LDP from power ever since the people decided they wanted a change. Kan's been doing one heck of a job--not perfect, certainly, but I hope that he doesn't bow out like his predecessors. Japan needs political stability at present; I find it thoroughly grotesque how Ozawa et al are picking fights in a grand show of political theater, when we need someone like Kan who is getting things done.
ReplyDeleteKan hints something may happen much later, in the meantime Hatoyama really looks feckless with absolute zero ability to view how ridiculous he appears especially in light of his brief tenure which was far more a disaster, all without help of the gods.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back by the way.
YY
So am I mad? Did NHK put up a breaking news chyron saying, "Prime Minister Kan indicates an intent to resign" in the midest of a speech which he concluded with a thunderous request to vote down the no confidence motion, then kept the chyron up the speeeches that followed, and then during the news
ReplyDeletecast immediately after the cutaway, with the announcers saying that he intended to resign?
I suppose wakai sedai doesn't include Ozawa or for that matter his followers...
ReplyDeleteIt's getting to be an interesting game of chicken, but not all that impressive if you're stuck in a school gymnasium with card board partitions for privacy.
YY
My understanding of the PM's use of the term "wakai sedai" is "let us hand the control of the party and the country to our own younger party members I have finished my term."
ReplyDeleteI'm also interested in hearing Ozawa's plan for (a) getting the country "back on track" and (b) how better to deal with ongoing issues (rebuilding/cleanup/prevention/etc.). All I hear is a lot of fuss being made about how Kan is ill-performing, yet no one is putting better solutions or approaches on the table.
ReplyDeleteLet's not forget that the origin of the no-confidence motion is not Ozawa, but LDP and the New Komeito. Seems Ozawa is rather grabbing the opportunity now that it presents itself. Of course, the chances are remote they'll actually be punished at the polls for doing this, but that is political life.
ReplyDeletePerhaps it means that he will resign after the situation in Tohoku improves sufficiently. Cynics may have a few jokes with that.
ReplyDelete