Japanese Elect New Leadership

It's evening in Japan and these voters are putting their marks on some of the last ballots to be cast in the general election.

As the clock strikes eight o' clock, a bell rings to signal the closing of polls.

During the next hours, as the numbers are tallied, it becomes evident that the country's political future is about to undergo an historic change.

The opposition Democratic Party of Japan or DPJ, lead by Yukio Hatoyama enjoyed a sweeping victory in Sunday's elections, ousting the country's long-ruling conservative party.

The Liberal Democratic Party or LDP under Prime Minister Taro Aso is expected to lose by a landslide.

As the exit polls emerged, a disappointed Aso announced he would step down as party leader.

[Taro Aso, Head of Liberal Democratic Party]:
"We couldn't wipe away the discontent of the Japanese people and therefore, I think we were destined to take responsibility...I believe I need to take responsibility for this."

But all eyes are now on 62-year-old Hatoyama.

The wealthy grandson of a former prime minister, he and his untested party will have to move quickly to pull Japan out of its worst recession in 60 years.

He'll have to tackle record unemployment and a rapidly ageing society that's inflating social security costs.

But he says he's up for the challenge.

[Yukio Hatoyama, Leader of Democratic Party of Japan]:
"We felt very strongly that we had to change the politics and knew this election was about a shift in power. We would like to thank everyone who's supported us to make this victory happen."

Political analyst, Tobias Harris, says the win sends a clear message to other politicians.

[Tobias Harris, Political Analyst and PH.D student]:
"Because the DPJ has won by such a landslide victory, clearly that sends a signal, not just, not just to the LDP that the public was angry enough to throw them out of power, but I think it sends a signal to the bureaucracy, which will have to think twice about how it challenges a DPJ government that, that would mandate with that kind of support behind them. The balance really will shift the politicians."

The DPJ's win ends a half-century of almost unbroken rule by the LDP and also breaks a deadlock in parliament.

Category:

News & Politics

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• NTD
• News
• Japan
• Election
• DPJ Yukio Hatoyama
• Taro Aso
• LPD

[Freedomvoicenews]

Hope this Will END the U.S. STRONG HOLD ON JAPAN and Japan can Start a Navy again and a ARMY