Ozawa Resigns

[Mulboyne]

[floatr][/floatr]Forbes: Japanese opposition leader announces resignation
Japan's main opposition leader, Ichiro Ozawa, announced Sunday his resignation as head of the Democratic Party amid a rift over the ruling party's proposal to form a new coalition. During talks with Ozawa Friday, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda proposed a coalition with the governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in a bid to break the legislative deadlock over extending Japan's refuelling mission for US-led operations in Afghanistan. Ozawa initially agreed to consider the proposal, but the idea was rejected by party executives. 'I personally reached the conclusion that it was worth beginning policy talks,' Ozawa told a press conference. 'During a meeting of Democratic Party executives, I explained Prime Minister Fukuda's idea and suggested that we begin policy talks. But unfortunately it was not accepted, which to me is equal to [a display of] no confidence.' Some Japanese media have reported that it was actually Ozawa, not Fukuda, who proposed a coalition during Friday's meeting. Ozawa said the proposal has caused 'political confusion'. 'To take my responsibility, I decided to resign as the representative of the Democratic Party,' he said....Officials within Ozawa's party reportedly tried to persuade him to stay on, and it was not immediately clear whether his resignation has been accepted.

[Doctor Stop]

What, he's not resigning due to "health problems"?

[Mulboyne]

He's very angry with the media. He seems to think they might be biased.

Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa strongly criticized the media for reporting that he had proposed forming a grand coalition during a meeting with Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on Friday, dismissing the reports as "totally groundless." At Sunday's press conference to announce his intention to resign as party head, Ozawa said, "Reports said I called for the meeting [with Fukuda] or that I proposed forming a grand coalition between the Liberal Democratic Party and Democratic Party of Japan, but these are totally groundless."

Ozawa expressed strong anger at the media.

"Most media institutions are thoughtlessly reporting [one-sided] information provided by the government and Liberal Democratic Party and I find it impossible to deny that they are playing a part in manipulating public opinion." He went on to say, "These reports are defamatory and slanderous, and intended to eliminate me politically and deal a fatal blow to the DPJ's image. I'm furious, and object very strongly to these reports."

(Yomiuri)

[benesan]

lol, i was scared you were talkin' about Maria Ozawa :P

[Oradea]

There are certainly some troubled times ahead for the politics of this country. Stability is not a word that goes well with high ranking officials over here. At least he has given a plausible motive behind his res.

[Greji]

He's very angry with the media. He seems to think they might be biased.

(Yomiuri)

He is not out yet. He has only tendered his resignation. It could possibly be that they talk him out of it. But, I think he wants out. The party is getting further factionalized and all their recent gains may just be headed out the window.

[Doctor Stop]

It's quite possible that the real reason for him "tendering his resignation" hasn't been revealed. Remember that Ozawa is from LDP stock which means that he's got more than one skeleton in his closet.

Look for the real reason in the weeklies.

[Doctor Stop]

DPJ's Ozawa linked to shady donations from defense trader

[canman]

I just read an article that said that Ozawa did want to form some kind of a grand coalition with the LDP. He said that it was the quickest way to visctory for Minshuto. What the hell is he smoking. You get mixed together with the ruling party, they will take all credit for whatever bills and laws that are passed. Come next election you have no platform and nothing to run on, as the ruling party will claim all credit.
The only thing I can think, is that Ozawa thought that if he joined, he could replace Fukuda, when his term runs out two years later. But that just doesn't make since. And Dr. Stop, I think Ozawa is teflon enough to escape these trivial accusations about him(in his mind that is). He hasn't gotten to where he is today, without a lot of skeletons in his closet. But I don't think he loses sleep over them.

[Doctor Stop]

And Dr. Stop, I think Ozawa is teflon enough to escape these trivial accusations about him(in his mind that is). He hasn't gotten to where he is today, without a lot of skeletons in his closet. But I don't think he loses sleep over them.

That's just something minor. There was another different minor leak a few weeks ago. He was in the LDP long enough to have some bigger skeletons in his closet, ones big enough to persuade him to resign if someone had reasons to persuade him to resign.

Ozawa doesn't have a molecule of teflon in him. He's a big blustering bully.

Does anyone believe that that Abe resigned to take responsibility for the Upper House loss, or as was officially reported, for "health reasons"?

[Mulboyne]

He is not out yet. He has only tendered his resignation. It could possibly be that they talk him out of it.

BBC: Japan opposition leader 'to stay'

Ichiro Ozawa, the leader of Japan's main opposition party, has withdrawn his resignation at the request of his colleagues, officials have said. Mr Ozawa had said he would resign as head of the Democratic Party of Japan after it vetoed a power-sharing offer with the ruling coalition...He agreed to retract his decision to resign after meeting party officials on Tuesday. The DPJ's secretary general, Yukio Hatoyama, said: "Mr Ozawa said he wants to work again as party leader after seeing the requests from members who want him to stay on." He said that Mr Ozawa felt as though he had made "an embarrassment" of himself, but was willing to "give it one more go". Analysts say wrangling among party leaders over the past few days has dented the party's image in Japan, and damaged their prospects for the next general election.

[Greji]

BBC: Japan opposition leader 'to stay'

Aren't you amazed at my knowledge of the political scene, my acute sense of the inter-workings, the grasp of the Japanese political mind?

Also, the fact that I work with his blabber mouth brother-in-law has absolutely nothing to do with my political brilliance!

[Takechanpoo]