New Candidates Emerge to Replace Japan's Premier

ASSOCIATED PRESSSeptember 5, 2008

TOKYO -- Two new candidates indicated Thursday they would join the race to replace Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda after his resignation this week, but a poll suggests voters want their say in national elections.
The Asahi, a major newspaper, said 56% of Japanese are in favor of dissolving parliament and holding general elections "as soon as possible," according to a telephone poll of 1,069 people conducted Tuesday and Wednesday. It didn't give a margin of error.
Speculation over which party members would enter the race began immediately after Mr. Fukuda made his surprise announcement, and Thursday several put their names forward.
Taro Aso, an outspoken and popular former foreign minister, has indicated a strong desire to run and is considered to be the favorite. Nobuteru Ishihara, the son of Tokyo's governor, said Thursday he would run against Mr. Aso if no other candidates emerged as challengers.
"I'm on the opposite end of the political spectrum from Secretary General Aso," Mr. Ishihara said. "So I have to create opportunities to speak from that stance."
Yuriko Koike, a former defense minister and TV anchorwoman, was widely reported to be considering entering her name, and said Thursday she was consulting with political allies. Economic Minister Kaoru Yosano also said Thursday he will seek the position.
The Liberal Democratic Party, which has been reluctant to call new elections, effectively picks the prime minister from within its ranks because it holds a majority in the powerful lower house of parliament.
The party has announced that it will choose a new leader on Sept. 22, and parliament was expected to install its choice as prime minister after it reconvenes on Sept. 24.
None of the ruling party's candidates were expected to stray much from the economic and diplomatic policies that Mr. Fukuda pursued, although Mr. Aso's nationalist stance could affect international relations.
Copyright © 2008 Associated Press