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Politics
All Eyes on Ozawa
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Ozawa
Tokyo -- The wavering of Banri Kaieda may be attributable to the fact that the supporters of former DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa have a different candidate in mind to run against Kan next month - Ichiro Ozawa.
It is now said that several dozen lawmakers close to Ozawa plan to ask their man to step up and do personal battle for the party leadership.
This move may have been provoked in part by the firm attitude that has been taken by Prime Minister Naoto Kan in not allowing Ozawa to return to a major post within the party.
Ozawa's followers are said to have wanted their man to return to the post of DPJ secretary-general, but Kan was equally determined to do no such thing.
The battle lines between the pro-Ozawa and anti-Ozawa groups within the DPJ appear to growing firmer. The biggest question is, just how far is Ichiro Ozawa willing to go in an attempt to regain his power?
Outside the DPJ, the Japanese general public is decidedly anti-Ozawa and clearly welcomes Prime Minister Kan's policy of excluding Ozawa from the inner councils of the administration.
On the other hand, Ozawa's supporters argue that only their man has the toughness to run the country. Kazuhiro Haraguchi, minister of internal affairs and a prominent Ozawa ally, asserted on Sunday that Ozawa is "a big hatchet" who can overcome the challenges of the times.
Crucial to the outcome of the September 14 DPJ presidential elections will be the position taken by the group of lawmakers surrounding former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama. Interestingly, it has just been reported that Ichiro Ozawa will personally attend a study meeting of the Hatoyama group that will be held in Karuizawa tomorrow.
And what about the legal case that has been hanging over Ozawa's head?
It has recently emerged that prosecutors intend to question Ozawa for a fourth time - after the DPJ presidential election.
PanOrient News
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