Kan, Hatoyama meet again to discuss compromise over DPJ vote+

TOKYO, Aug. 29 Kyodo -
Prime Minister Naoto Kan and his predecessor Yukio Hatoyama met Sunday evening
in Tokyo to seek a compromise over the Democratic Party of Japan's upcoming
leadership election, in which ruling party heavyweight Ichiro Ozawa plans to
challenge Kan in a potentially divisive move.
In their meeting which lasted about 40 minutes at the prime minister's official
residence, Hatoyama was believed to have talked about his meeting with Ozawa on
Thursday and explained how he came to switch from supporting Kan to backing
Ozawa for the DPJ presidential election, according to DPJ sources.
Kan likely told Hatoyama about his intention to work on uniting the party
following the election scheduled on Sept. 14, according to the sources.
The two already discussed the matter Wednesday, with Hatoyama, who had also met
with Ozawa the day before that, asking Kan to build a united party while
explaining that Ozawa is displeased with the prime minister's move to try to
keep him out of the limelight.
Prior to his talks with Kan, Hatoyama met with Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito
Sengoku, who indicated to reporters afterward that there is a possibility that
Ozawa may withdraw his candidacy so that Kan would be elected DPJ president
without a vote.
''I too want to make efforts to avoid a serious situation,'' Sengoku said.
''Their ideas of what a united party constitutes are different, but they can
resolve (their differences) if they compare notes.''
Hatoyama, who returned earlier Sunday from a visit to Russia, also discussed
with lawmakers close to him how to deal with the circumstances, according to
the sources.
Among Hatoyama's close party associates, Yoshikatsu Nakayama told reporters in
Tokyo, ''The leading public opinion is that it is not a time to hold an
election'' with more than one candidate bidding to head the party.
''We will do our best until the very last minute to avoid an election. I think
there is room for that,'' Nakayama said, suggesting that his group, headed by
Hatoyama, prefers to see a single candidate endorsed without voting at a party
meeting to decide its next leader.
Concerns are growing among party members that the DPJ may split after the
projected leadership showdown as a tug-of-war continues between groups
supporting Kan and Ozawa, whose group is the largest among the party's factions
followed by Hatoyama's group.
Hatoyama failed to mediate between Kan and Ozawa to avoid their confrontation
in the DPJ presidential contest, for which Ozawa declared his candidacy
Thursday.
Ozawa, who stepped down as DPJ secretary general in June amid a political fund
report scandal, has been critical of the current party management, while Kan is
seeking to keep Ozawa, known as a behind-the-scenes power broker, in the
background and away from key posts.
Kan is expected to formally announce his reelection bid Tuesday, the day before
official campaigning for the DPJ presidential race begins.
==Kyodo
2010-08-29 23:43:27


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