Breaking News: Yoshihiko Noda confirmed as the new Japan’s PM
by Alfred Kola
Japan's parliament elected Yoshihiko Noda, 54, as the country's new prime minister Tuesday, making him the country's sixth new leader in five years. He won the majority of votes from his ruling Democratic Party. He will officially take over the new post on Wednesday after a ceremony organized by the emperor. The former finance minister was chosen over other top runners including former Minister of Foreign Affairs Seiji Maehara and Trade Minister Banri Kaieda. The legislative vote was largely a formality as Noda was chosen head of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan on Monday. But the list of challenges he faces in his new job would make any politician's head spin.
The new PM faces a host of daunting problems, from post-tsunami recovery and an ongoing nuclear crisis to reviving a limp economy and reining in the nation's bloated debt.
In his acceptance as elected leader of the ruling Democratic Party, Japan's new Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda likened his nation's political plight as a snowball falling fast downhill.
"Running Japan's government is like pushing a giant snowball up a snowy, slippery hill," he said. "In times like this, we can't say, 'I don't like this person,' or 'I don't like that person.' The snowball will slide down."
A fiscal conservative, Noda is respected for his economic credentials. He has been battling in the past with problems of reducing country’s national debt, twice the nation's gross domestic product.
Given the pressing problems at home, Noda will likely focus on disaster reconstruction and other domestic matters.
But he could face trouble in his relationship with China over a series of issues. Whether the new PM will be able to settle dispute with the Japan’s neighboring China remains to be seen.
At any rate, the new post will not be easy for Yoshihiko Noda and he will have to find ways to deal with the mounting problems of Japan.
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all the analysts are very
<p>all the analysts are very suspicious that he will be able to tackle the many problems in Japan. I bet he will resign in six months</p>
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