InfoAnda - Japan PM faces deadlock after poll rout

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

US warns of potential attack on Nigeria missions | 6 April 2009
U.S. rethinks plans to give Libya $2.5 million in aid | International | | 25 September 2009
Review: `Public Enemies' dazzles the eye but drags | 27 June 2009

Booker T. Jones returns with attitude | Entertainment | | 15 April 2009

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Japan PM faces deadlock after poll rout

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Australia China India Indonesia Japan Malaysia Philippines Thailand Vietnam Japan PM faces deadlock after poll rout AFP - 15 minutes ago Send IM Story Print TOKYO (AFP) - – Japan's premier faced an uphill battle Monday to push through promised reforms, from reviving the economy to whittling down massive public debt, after his party's electoral mauling at the weekend. Naoto Kan, who took office just a month ago as Japan's fifth leader in four years, suffered a heavy blow when his centre-left Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) lost the upper house of parliament in an electoral rout Sunday. The result, worse than predicted by opinion polls and pundits, signalled that the world's number two economy is in for another stretch of weak leadership as it seeks to end two decades of economic stagnation. Related article: Yen falls after Japan ruling party suffers setback The outcome was a slap in the face for the DPJ, which ousted the conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in an election triumph last summer, only to squander much of its political capital within 10 months in office. "We are faced with harsh criticism. We will sincerely accept that," Kan's top spokesman, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku, told a news conference. Sengoku said he wants to open talks with opposition parties, saying: "On many issues our outlook is not sharply different." The DPJ has emerged with only 106 seats in the 242-seat chamber -- far below the 122 needed for a majority, although it still controls the lower house. "Japan is stuck in a dense fog," said Takayoshi Shibata, politics professor emeritus at Tokyo Keizai University. "There will be confusion" as the DPJ looks for new coalition partners to restore its majority in the upper house and enable it to easily pass laws through the Diet legislature, he said. "This hung situation shouldn't continue for too long. I believe somebody needs to break this impasse but the question is: who can?" Smaller groupings such as Your Party, one of the biggest winners in the poll, have been named as possible coalition partners, but its leader Yoshimi Watanabe has so far rejected a tie-up with the wounded DPJ. Analysis: Election defeat erodes hope for strong leadership Japanese politics expert Professor Gerald Curtis of Columbia University said the DPJ was unlikely to find coalition partners now. "No party is going to join this government. The DPJ is going to have to govern as a minority government in the upper house," he said. "No-one is going to jump onto this sinking ship. "What you're going to see here is true gridlock and paralysis." The prospect of political deadlock drove the yen lower in morning trade and kept Tokyo stocks flat. Kan took over in early June from the DPJ's first premier Yukio Hatoyama, who had led the party into power last August after half a century of conservative rule but quickly lost favour with voters for his indecisive leadership. When Hatoyama stood down amid political funding scandals and a bungled row over a US airbase, his former finance minister Kan signalled a more pragmatic and less ideological style. Kan shifted his focus from the damaging US base row to the problem of Japan's massive public debt, which is nearing 200 percent of gross domestic product, warning of the risk of a Greece-style financial meltdown. But his tough-love comments on the need to raise the consumption tax turned off many voters. Kan compounded the damage when he appeared to backtrack on the issue, which left him open to charges of Hatoyama-style indecisiveness. "The biggest reason for the DPJ's defeat is Prime Minister Kan's handling of the issue of a consumption tax," the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper said. "He failed to provide a full explanation about why the tax rate should be raised and how it should be used." The Nikkei business daily said that, nonetheless, Kan must push on with his fiscal reform agenda, pointing at the need to fix state finances in the rapidly ageing society that will face a huge state pension burden in future. "Many voters share the view that a consumption tax hike is inevitable to secure funds for social security programmes," it said. "The election defeat must not cause the Kan government to backpedal on the consumption tax issue." Some pundits and newspaper editorials have even raised the prospect of a grand coalition between the two major parties, saying that many of their centrist legislators, despite election-time animosity, share similar values. Recommend Send IM Story Print Related Articles Japan PM faces deadlock after poll rout AFP - 15 minutes ago China to get first 100 million-population province Reuters - 27 minutes ago India launches five satellites into orbit AFP - 35 minutes ago Australian PM may call election within days Reuters - 47 minutes ago S.Korea says location of war games undecided AFP - 56 minutes ago News Search Top Stories Fiesta in Spain, agony in Netherlands after World Cup final European banks mull 20-bln-euro private bailout fund Football: Casillas true hero as Iniesta steals headlines Spain win seals perfect eight for 'psychic' octopus Spain, Holland go to extra-time in World Cup final More Top Stories » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed Most Recommended European probe Rosetta flies by asteroid: ESA Bahamas police capture 'Barefoot Bandit' Spain win seals perfect eight for 'psychic' octopus Football: Casillas true hero as Iniesta steals headlines Remote Easter Island braces for total solar eclipse More Most Viewed » Reclusive top mathematician turns down prize, again Germany's 'Octopus oracle' keeps perfect record Aussie men shoot each other in buttocks 'to see if it hurts' Amputee cat gets bionic legs Fans gather for Michael Jackson death anniversary More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! Financial news on Yahoo! Finance Stars and latest movies Best travel destinations More on Yahoo! News Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Subscribe to our news feeds Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS » More news feeds | What are news feeds? Also on Yahoo Answers Groups Mail Messenger Mobile Travel Finance Movies Sports Games » All Yahoo! Services Site Highlights Singapore Full Coverage Most Popular Asia Entertainment Photos World Cup 2010 Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community | Intellectual Property Rights Policy | Help

Other News on Monday, 12 July 2010
Darfur violence kills 221 in June
Government inspectors ease scandal over French minister
20 kilos of 20 pct enriched uranium ready: Iran
All children of Russian spies repatriated
Iran halts woman's stoning 'for now'
Senior Palestinian calls Jerusalem a time bomb |
"Irrational" Iran can't get nuclear arms
Guatemala nabs cocaine-stuffed submarine in Pacific |
Iraqi court seeks arrest of Iranian exiles
Sarkozy's party loses by-election amid scandal |
Attacks kill 11 Afghan police, official in north
Darfur violence kills 221 in June: peacekeepers |
Japan ruling party reels after vote
Japan ruling party handed big defeat over tax plan
Japan ruling party loses on tax talk: exit polls
China confirms it renewed Google operating license
Total solar eclipse arcs its way across Pacific
Soldiers take over where Afghan gov't fears to go
Soccer City erupts in light for World Cup closer
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
"Despicable Me" leads North American box office
Despicable Me leads North American box office |
Angelina Jolie defends daughter Shiloh's style |
Iran spares woman from stoning for now
Russians risk jail in 'forbidden art' trial
Removal of Taliban leaders from terror list sought
Uganda bombings kill 64 as World Cup fans targeted |
Russian spy's call to father triggered arrests
The World's Most Expensive Bicycles
NATO soldier, 11 police killed in Afghan attacks
Fiesta in Spain, agony in Netherlands after World Cup final
Karzai to ask U.N. to trim Taliban blacklist: report |
Nine Technologies To Ease Pain Of Getting Old
Senior Palestinian calls Jerusalem a "time bomb"
Brother angered by death of British fugitive
Israel failed in ship interception planning: reports |
Celebrities: Macs Vs. PCs
Spain win seals perfect eight for 'psychic' octopus
6.2 magnitude earthquake strikes Chile |
US-TECH Summary
Attacks kill 11 Afghan police, official in north
Government inspectors ease scandal over French minister
Electronic voting no threat yet to the old style ballot box
Three Northern Irish police shot in overnight riots |
European banks mull 20-bln-euro private bailout fund
Football: Casillas true hero as Iniesta steals headlines
Afghan government seeking bigger slice of aid pie |
Japan faces policy gridlock as ruling party reels |
Betancourt accuses Colombia of failing to protect her |
Australian PM may call election within days: media |
Spain, Holland go to extra-time in World Cup final
China to start draining dam that threatens city |
Bahamas police capture 'Barefoot Bandit'
S.Korea says location of war games undecided
Bahamas police capture 'Barefoot Bandit'
Myanmar troops seize vulnerable boys for tough army life
New Zealand PM sees pacts boosting Vietnam trade
Japan PM faces deadlock after poll rout
Australia PM drops election hint, leads in polls
Lawsuit against Apple, AT&T can remain as class action: report |
Old style ballot box facing electronic poll threat
Celebrities: Macs Vs. PCs
Beijing steps up English-language drive
India's industrial output jumps 11.5 percent
Running with Pamplona's bulls, 'a high that lasts all year'
"Eclipse" still has bite at foreign box office
Australian PM may call election within days
Taiwan's CPC to set up oil shipping venture
Mel Gibson ouster more about money than morals
Anti-whaling protester: 'ugly war' will cost lives
Asia must brace for possible economic shocks: IMF
Louisiana prays for oil to finally get capped
Seoul shares rise on airlines, battery makers
Lopez faces 40 million lawsuit over Cyprus cancellation
Taiwan's Evergreen buys 10 vessels from CSBC
South Korea c.bank sells 91-day MSBs at 2.37 pct
'Despicable Me' tops ticket sales at Americas box office
Korea Hot Stocks
Renault's S.Korea unit to recall 59,000 vehicles
Yen falls after Japan ruling party suffers setback
PetroChina open to closer ties with BP
Eclipse still has bite at foreign box office |
The filmmaker who became a legal spy |
Mel Gibson ouster more about money than morals |
Spain says awaiting 11 freed Cuban dissidents
Facebook installs 'panic button' for children
North Korea and U.N. officers to meet over ship sinking |
Riots in N.Ireland see 27 officers hurt
Facebook launches child safety application
Three jailed 20 years in foiled UK airliner bomb plot |
Polanski free after Swiss reject extradition
Afghanistan frees more suspected Taliban |
ICC issues arrest warrant for genocide against Bashir |
S.Africa urged to build on World Cup success
Fidel Castro to appear on Cuban television and radio |
Champions Spain back home, Blatter praises .SAfrica
Strong Russian remarks on Iran please Washington |
Stargazers in awe as total eclipse arcs across Pacific
Bahamas police capture 'Barefoot Bandit'
Canadian Guantanamo inmate turns down US plea deal
Timor parliament rejects Australian refugee plan
Tiger countries meet in Indonesia to map rescue
North Korea to meet U.N. officers over ship sinking
Microsoft CEO touts new Windows tablets vs iPad |
Facebook launches child safety application |
China to get first 100 million-population province
Roman Polanski freed as Swiss deny extradition
India launches five satellites into orbit
Pakistani rupee at record low; stocks flat
Experts fined in Russian art trial
Honda's China sales down 2.7 percent in June
Court fines organisers of Moscow exhibition
Jennifer Lopez faces $40 mln lawsuit over gig cancellation
S&P warns policy gridlock could hit Japan rating
Russia court finds 'Forbidden Art' organisers guilty
S.Korea rate rise vote was not unanimous
Taiwan Formosa to determine naphtha unit downtime by next week
S.Korea to invest $2 bln in carbon capture to 2019
China tycoon bids to be Prada's biggest shareholder
Pakistan June inflation up 12.69 pct yr/yr
Seoul shares rise on airlines, battery makers
Roman Polanski freed as Swiss deny extradition |
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph		BlogMeter 1.01