Kan to seek reelection as DPJ chief amid some intraparty opposition+

TOKYO, July 29 Kyodo -
Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Thursday expressed his eagerness to remain as
leader of the Democratic Party of Japan during a meeting of all its Diet
members, while facing pressure from some of them to step down after apologizing
for the ruling coalition's defeat in the recent upper house election.
Kan said he felt responsible for the party's loss of several seats in the July
11 House of Councillors election because of his ''abrupt'' remarks on the
consumption tax, which were widely interpreted as signaling a hike in the years
ahead.
''I apologize from the bottom of my heart that my tactless remarks related to
the consumption tax forced many people to face a tough election,'' Kan told the
meeting aimed at reviewing the main cause of the party's electoral setback.
Kan, who assumed office in June, said he wants to ask all DPJ lawmakers and
local supporters to judge whether he deserves to lead the party in its
presidential election in September.
Kan said he believes the defeat represents a warning from the public that the
DPJ should not lose its initial enthusiasm at the time of the historic change
of government to make the lives of ordinary people better.
With some lawmakers frustrated with the party leadership, Kan called for unity
and said the DPJ, which swept to power 10 months ago, needs to go back to the
starting point to strive toward Japan's revitalization.
But he faced criticism from some DPJ lawmakers during the meeting who demanded
that he and other party executives step down to take responsibility for the
setback.
Among many others, upper house lawmaker Hirosato Nakatsugawa said Kan, DPJ
Secretary General Yukio Edano and DPJ election campaign chief Jun Azumi cannot
avoid taking the blame for the poor outcome.
After the meeting at the Parliamentary Museum, Kan told reporters that he will
''accept the severe criticism with sincerity'' and do his best to win support
for the Cabinet's polices.
He said he has no plans to change the lineup of the party leadership ''at least
until the presidential election,'' suggesting that Edano and other executives
could be replaced with someone else if he gets reelected.
As a result of the electoral loss, the ruling coalition led by the DPJ failed
to maintain its majority in the upper house.
Although the DPJ controls the lower house, Kan will likely find it more
difficult to implement policies and deal with opposition parties, starting from
an extraordinary Diet session that will run from Friday.
Ichiro Ozawa, a former DPJ secretary general who has wielded strong influential
in Japanese politics for decades, did not appear at the meeting.
Ozawa is the boss of the largest intraparty group, known to be critical of the
way Kan has run the government.
Ozawa, who had come under fire over funding scandals, stepped down from the
party's No. 2 position when former Prime Minister and DPJ leader Yukio Hatoyama
resigned in June, handing the reins of government to Kan.
==Kyodo
2010-07-29 22:54:28