Since the age of about 6 or 7 I’d say, I’ve had glasses almost permanently attached to my face. The first thing I do in the morning is reach over and put them on, and the last thing I do at night before falling asleep is take them off. The only time I don’t wear [...]
PM realises Nakagawa only person in government less competent than him; tells him to stay
A predictable end to this story, and I’m sure it won’t really be reported much now, as the self-back slapping caused by Hilary Clinton’s arrival in Japan on her way to China is making all the top headlines. Last night Shoichi Nakagawa, the minister under severe criticism worldwide for falling asleep during the G-7 meeting of Finance Ministers in Rome and then appearing drunk at the press conference afterwards, met with Japanese PM Taro Aso. People waited and wondered what would happen to him. Would he be forced out of office? Would he be made to issue a public apology for his actions in using one of Japan’s few chances with an international audience to disgrace the country?
“I thank him for having done a lot of work well” was thequite stunning response from the Prime Minister. He went on to praise the work that Nakagawa had done and told journalists that he had told the Finance Minister he wants him to remain in his position. Aso added that he had heard Nakagawa had been taking sleeping pills. So it’s changed from too much cold medicine and being tired after a busy schedule, to taking sleeping medication. But that’s the party line and none of the mainstream media will actually question that here.
The opposition DPJ have revealed they are going to submit a censure motion against Nakagawa, possibly as early as today. The thing is, even if the motion passes it is non-binding. Given the government’s disregard of public opinion, it is unlikely that this will force him out. What it will do is aid Aso’s aim to become the world leader with the least approval rating in history. What is interesting is that the DPJ are saying that he has disgraced Japan on an international stage, with the world watching, and should therefore resign. This may just be something lost in translation, but it can give the opinion that if this was only on done a domestic level (say, for example at the Diet in Tokyo) then it would be much less reprehensible.
Who knows, but I’m looking forward to the latest approval ratings. They give me a little of my sadistic humour fix for the week.
Tags: economy, G-7, hilary clinton, japanese news, shoichi nakagawa, taro aso, 中川緒一
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Comments 2
February 17th, 2009 at 13:09
I was really hoping you were going to write about this. Drunkenness and sleeping at meetings, making decisions that effect the whole country while drunk, approval ratings dropping below 10%… is there any salvation for us?
All the living ex-prime ministers are also giving out sound bytes.
Of course we have two ex-entertainers who became governors (Hashimoto in Osaka and Higashikokubaru in Miyazaki) who have approval ratings well over 70%.
Is Aso the problem, or is the whole federal government just rotting with corruption and self-serving policies that pass in the face of an indifferent, under educated (about govt), and impotent populace?
February 19th, 2009 at 11:51
jay – You didn’t think I’d miss out on this one, did you?! I’ve thought a few times about these ex-tarento and their popularity as governors in mainland Japan. You probably know more about them than me, with me being stuck down here. Is their popularity because they are actually competent at their job, or just because they were former entertainers and could make people laugh? I know personality plays a big role in modern politics but it also helps to have some substance behind the smiles (Taro Aso take note)