From Overseas Press

The mess in Japanese politics

(The Straits Times)
Updated: 2010-07-15 15:02

Under Japan's parliamentary system, Bills endorsed by the Lower House but thrown out by the Upper House can still pass into law if they are approved by two-thirds of the lower chamber in a second vote.

But such an option is closed to the DPJ as it is just short of a two-thirds majority in the Lower House.

In many democracies, it is not unusual for the ruling party to control one chamber and the opposition the other.

Such a situation is even welcomed as a means of check and balance against government excesses for it obliges both sides to compromise when drafting policies.

Divided into two main parties and some six other smaller groups, Japanese politicians however see their divided parliament as a potential not for compromise but for power games and the opportunity to force early general elections.

At the same time, something is also basically very wrong with the Japanese political system.

It all boils down to Japan having far too many elections and an obsessive tendency by the Japanese to demand resignations - the modern equivalent of Japanese ritual suicides - for election failures.

So a Japanese prime minister not only has to win a general election, which comes around every four years or earlier, but he also lies in constant dread of losing Upper House elections which happen every three years.

Add to that party presidential elections that take place every two years and you have a leader who is going to be more preoccupied with winning elections than thinking about Japan's domestic problems, let alone his country's place in the world.

Kan may have been given a temporary reprieve by his party for now over Sunday's election setback.

But he faces a party election in September where, in all likelihood, his leadership will be challenged. Whoever becomes leader of the ruling party is entitled to become prime minister.

Common sense may however prevail. Kan may get to continue in office if the bickering factions in the DPJ agree that it would be scandalous indeed for Japan to see a third prime minister in the space of just four months.

Kan was elected Prime Minister only last month, replacing Yukio Hatoyama who threw in the towel after just eight months as premier.

In the past few years, Japan has seen prime ministers come and go annually, diminishing the country's international stature with each renewal of its leadership.

As Japan continues to lurch from one political crisis to another, its friends in Asia can only watch with curiosity and a certain sense of trepidation.

Japan's role in regional affairs has palpably shrunk, no thanks too to its lingering recession and a leadership that is inexperienced in dealing with foreign countries.

The influential Nikkei business daily on Wednesday quoted a former Japanese central bank official as saying that among Asian officials these days, 'AEJ' (Asia except Japan) has become almost like a universal greeting.

In November, Japan is slated to host members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation to their annual summit.

The burning question is not what new regional initiatives Japan will put on the table, but more likely who will be in the chairman's seat.