The election of political veteran Ichiro Ozawa as the new leader of the Democratic Party of Japan poses a threat to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, regardless of who the next prime minister will be, according to political observers.
In particular, his long career as a kingmaker may underline the lack of experience by possible successors to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, including Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, who has consistently enjoyed the highest popularity among the four possible candidates and is the youngest among them, they said. The other three are Foreign Minister Taro Aso, Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki and former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda. Koizumi has pledged to step down when his current term ends in September.
Ozawa won the DPJ presidential poll on Friday with a 119-72 vote over Naoto Kan.