This is heartening news, especially considering the alternative (that Taro Aso nutjob).
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/09/24/japan.fukuda.ap/index.html?eref=rss_latest Fukuda set to become new Japan PMTOKYO, Japan (AP) -- Japan's troubled ruling party chose dovish veteran politician Yasuo Fukuda as its pick for prime minister Sunday, turning to an experienced hand to battle the resurgent opposition in parliament and reverse a steep slide in public support.
Fukuda, the 71-year-old son of a prime minister and a former right-hand man to two premiers, easily won the vote for president of the Liberal Democratic Party, a post that ensures his election as prime minister in parliament on Tuesday.
But Fukuda, who would replace Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, faces daunting challenges: The upper house of parliament is dominated by the opposition, and sentiment is growing in favor of snap elections that could endanger the LDP's grip on the lower house.
Fukuda acknowledged the difficulties ahead.
"My appointment comes at a very challenging time," he told reporters hours after his election. "I will strive toward reviving the LDP, regaining the public's trust, and making progress on policy."
The new LDP president charted a moderate course for his term in office: He pledged to improve ties with Asia, maintain Japan's pro-U.S. foreign policy by extending a naval mission in support of forces in Afghanistan, and provide assistance to rural areas left behind by the economic recovery.
He also vowed after the vote to rebuild the LDP's popularity, which has plunged under a year of scandals and policy missteps by Abe, who has been hospitalized with stress-related stomach problems since announcing on September 12 that he would resign.
Fukuda, who served as chief Cabinet secretary in 2000-04, had been the front-runner since he emerged as a candidate week before last to challenge Taro Aso, a policy hawk who had been Abe's foreign minister until taking a top LDP position last month.
The party elder's lead over Aso was so clear by Sunday that morning papers had already given him the title of LDP president, and he was asked in an appearance on national broadcaster NHK if he would choose Aso as his foreign minister.
Fukuda was seen as a symbol of stability after the uncertainty of the Abe administration, though some were worried the new leader would be too old-guard.
"I think Fukuda is the man Japan needs right now. His views are very balanced," said Nobuaki Noguchi, 71, a retired school administrator. "I hope this doesn't mean we're going back to the old LDP or that he slams the brakes on reform."
Fukuda will inherit a political environment and LDP left in serious disarray.
Abe, 53, came into office a year ago with high support ratings and an unquestioned ruling-coalition dominance in parliament.
But he quickly frittered away those advantages as his Cabinet got mired in financial scandals and he pressed ahead with a nationalist agenda while people demanded more attention to bread-and-butter issues such as pensions.
The LDP suffered a serious blow in elections in July for the upper house of parliament, in which the resurgent opposition seized control of the chamber, heightening calls for snap elections for the lower house as well.
Abe apologized to the party for his sudden resignation in a message read after Fukuda's selection, but said he would not resign as a lawmaker. The government also said it was possible Abe would hold a news conference at his hospital on Monday.
"I apologize to LDP Secretary-General Aso and all LDP lawmakers, party members and most of all the Japanese public for causing this political vacuum," Abe wrote. "I hope the new LDP leader will powerfully push ahead with his policies."
Fukuda's first order of business will be pushing the Afghanistan support measure through parliament, where the opposition has vowed to defeat it. Japanese tankers have been refueling coalition ships in the Indian Ocean since 2001, and the U.S. -- Japan's top ally and protector -- has been pushing for an extension of the operation.
Fukuda has argued it was Japan's responsibility to continue the mission to stabilize a world order that has allowed Japan to become prosperous and secure.
"It is not desirable to make an impression that Japan has withdrawn from the mission," he said. "We may send a wrong message to the international community if we fail to express our intentions promptly."
