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Fukuda aims for new start in Japan
2008-08-02
TOKYO (AFP) - Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda vowed on Saturday to fight price hikes and boost cooperation with Asian countries, as he attempted to breathe new life into his government after a cabinet reshuffle. Fukuda called the first meeting of his new cabinet members after they were sworn in by Emperor Akihito at the imperial palace, government officials said. "I will firmly take emergency measures for people who are seriously affected by abnormal oil prices," Fukuda said in a statement. "I will also carry out flexible economic management by closely watching prices of commodities." Fukuda named a new cabinet filled with heavyweights on Friday, vowing to jump-start a lacklustre economy in a last-ditch bid to revive waning public support. The popularity of the 72-year-old centrist has plunged since he took over last September as voters have been left feeling worse off than a year ago because of rising global oil and food prices. Public support increased only slightly as a result of the cabinet shake-up, rising to 31.5 percent from 26.8 percent in July, a poll conducted by Kyodo News on Friday and Saturday showed. Support for the opposition party rose to 30 percent, higher than the ruling party, while 48 percent of respondents were favourable to a government ruled by the opposition, the survey found. "I will carry out people-oriented reforms by tackling pending issues one by one," Fukuda said. "I sincerely hope that people will give us understanding and cooperation." On the diplomatic front, Fukuda said: "Based on the firm alliance between Japan and the United States, I will contribute to the formation of open diplomacy in order to work together with Asia-Pacific countries." Fukuda renewed his promises to pressure North Korea to give up its nuclear programmes and continue the country's commitment to the "war on terror." He also vowed to take the lead in speeding up negotiations on global warming in a bid to introduce an "effective framework" to succeed the Kyoto protocol, which will expire in 2012. Japanese dailies on Saturday urged the premier to exercise strong leadership in carrying out reforms and tackling price hikes. Japan's economy stands "at the brink of a recession" due to soaring prices of oil and food, while drastic reform of social security, tax and state finance systems must be made without delay, the Yomiuri Shimbun said in an editorial. "We hope he will tackle pressing policy issues head on and show bold leadership when implementing policy," the mass-circulation daily said. If Fukuda hesitates to reform troubled pension funds and cut growing national debt, "he will never win voters' trust," the Asahi Shimbun daily said in an editorial. On Friday, Fukuda brushed off calls for snap general elections, which do not need to be held until September 2009, saying: "I think in the current socioeconomic situation it's the time to carry out policies." As part of the reshuffle, Fukuda brought his former rival Taro Aso back from the political wilderness as secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), a post key to preventing any internal revolt. "We want to pay attention to the positive impact of Aso, who is said to be popular, on his administration," the Nikkei business daily said. Fukuda also shook up his team steering the Japanese economy, including appointing Kaoru Yosano -- who advocates a controversial tax hike to make up for ballooning debt -- as his minister in charge of fiscal policy.
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