Yasuo Fukuda
Yasuo Fukuda | |
---|---|
福田 康夫 | |
Gunma 3rd District | |
In office 1990–1996 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Takasaki, Empire of Japan | 16 July 1936
Political party | Liberal Democratic Party |
Spouse | Kiyoko Fukuda |
Children | 1 |
Parent | Takeo Fukuda |
Alma mater | Waseda University |
Yasuo Fukuda (福田 康夫, Fukuda Yasuo, born 16 July 1936) is a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan from 2007 to 2008. He was previously the longest-serving Chief Cabinet Secretary in Japanese history, serving in that role from 2000 to 2004 under Prime Ministers Yoshirō Mori and Junichiro Koizumi. His record was surpassed by Yoshihide Suga, who served almost twice as long. [1]
Following the resignation of Prime Minister
Early life
Fukuda was born in
Fukuda also served as president of the Japanese Canoe Federation prior to his September 2007 election as Prime Minister.[3]
Political career
Fukuda ran for the House of Representatives in 1990 and won a seat.[1] He was elected deputy director of the Liberal Democratic Party in 1997 and became Chief Cabinet Secretary to Yoshirō Mori in October 2000. He resigned his position as Chief Cabinet Secretary on 7 May 2004 amid a large political scandal related to the Japanese pension system.[citation needed]
Fukuda was considered a contender for the leadership of the LDP in 2006, but, on 21 July, he decided that he would not seek the nomination. Instead,
Election as Prime Minister
Following Abe's resignation in September 2007, Fukuda announced that he would run in the Liberal Democratic Party leadership election, which would also determine the prime minister, given the LDP's majority in the House of Representatives.
Fukuda received a great deal of support in his bid, including that of the LDP's largest faction, led by Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura, of which Fukuda is a member.[1] Finance Minister Fukushiro Nukaga, who initially had intended to run for the leadership, also backed Fukuda.[5] Fukuda's only competitor for the leadership, Tarō Asō, publicly acknowledged the likelihood of his own defeat a week before the election.[6]
In the election, on 23 September, he defeated Aso, receiving 330 votes against Aso's 197.[7] Fukuda was formally elected as Japan's 91st prime minister on 25 September.[8] He received 338 votes, almost 100 more than necessary for a majority, in the House of Representatives; although the House of Councillors (the upper house), led by the opposition Democratic Party, elected Ichirō Ozawa over Fukuda by a margin of 133 to 106. This deadlock was then resolved in favor of the lower house's choice, according to Article 67 of the Constitution.[8][9]
Fukuda and his cabinet were formally sworn in by Emperor Akihito on 26 September.[10]
Censure motion
On 11 June 2008, a
Motion of confidence
On 12 June, a
Sudden resignation
On 1 September 2008, Fukuda announced his resignation, citing reasons related to improving the flow of the political process. The sudden announcement began with a call for an emergency press conference issued at 6:00 pm, The purpose not disclosed until 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the press conference. The resignation was widely compared to the sudden resignation of Abe a year earlier. Fukuda said that while Abe's resignation was due to health reasons, his own resignation was motivated by a desire to remove impediments to legislative and political process due to deadlock between his party and the opposition-controlled upper house of the Diet.[15]
The resignation led to another leadership election within the LDP. Tarō Asō was viewed as the likely front-runner to replace Fukuda, and was elected a week later.[16] His popularity was hit by a controversial medical plan for elderly people, falling below 30% at one stage. He said:[17][18]
Today, I have decided to resign. We need a new line-up to cope with a new session of parliament. My decision is based on what I thought the future political situation ought to be. The Democratic Party has tried to stall every bill so it has taken a long time to implement any policies. For the sake of the Japanese people, this should not be repeated. If we are to prioritize the people's livelihoods, there cannot be a political vacuum from political bargaining, or a lapse in policies. We need a new team to carry out policies.
Taro Aso
Diplomacy
In June 2014, Fukuda visited
In July 2019, Fukuda addressed the two-day Sino-US trade relations forum in Hong Kong, attended by high-level attendees included former Chinese vice-premier Zeng Peiyan and other previous government heads and officials, as well as entrepreneurs and scholars from around the world. Fukuda urged China to seriously consider what role it wanted to play on the world stage, describing it as “the most serious issue of the era that we are faced with”...“Each step China takes not only affects relations between the United States and China, but also the entire world,” he said. [23]
After Politics
After retiring in 2012, he is now the President of the Japan-Indonesia Association. [24]
Controversies
Statements on "Super Free"
When Fukuda was Chief Cabinet Secretary to former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi he was reported to have made highly controversial comments during an off-the-record discussion with reporters in June 2003 regarding the victims of rape by male members of the
The magazine quoted Fukuda as saying: "There are women who look like they are saying 'Do it to me'. Those who have that kind of appearance are at fault, because men are black panthers." In response, Fukuda claimed that the Shukan Bunshun had distorted his comments, stating that he had never intended to defend rape, and told a parliamentary panel afterward that rape was "a criminal act and an atrocious crime."[27][28]
Refueling debate
One of the major issues during Fukuda's first months in office was the status of Japan's Indian Ocean refueling mission.
Cabinet
Fukuda's cabinet was formed on 26 September 2007.
Secretary | Nobutaka Machimura |
---|---|
Internal Affairs
|
Hiroya Masuda |
Justice | Kunio Hatoyama |
Foreign Affairs | Masahiko Kōmura |
Finance | Fukushiro Nukaga |
Education
|
Kisaburo Tokai |
Health
|
Yōichi Masuzoe |
Agriculture | Masatoshi Wakabayashi |
Economy
|
Akira Amari |
Land
|
Tetsuzo Fuyushiba |
Environment | Ichirō Kamoshita |
Defense | Shigeru Ishiba |
Public Safety, Disaster Prevention |
Shinya Izumi |
Economic Policy | Hiroko Ōta |
Financial Services, Administrative Reform |
Yoshimi Watanabe |
Okinawa and Northern Territories, Technology Policy, Regulatory Reform |
Fumio Kishida |
Population, Youth and Gender Equality | Yōko Kamikawa |
Gallery
-
Fukuda at his fundraising party in October 2004
-
Fukuda and US president George W. Bush exchange handshakes following their joint statement at the White House, November 16, 2007
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Fukuda and US president George W. Bush exchange handshakes following their first meeting at the White House
-
Robert Gates meets with Yasuo Fukuda
Decorations
In March 2008, Croatian president Stjepan Mesić presented Fukuda with the Grand Order of Queen Jelena with the Sash and the Croatian Morning Star.[34] The decoration was given to Fukuda for his efforts in promoting friendly relations between Japan and Croatia.[35]
See also
- Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD-IV), 2008.
References
- ^ a b c d Keiichi Yamamura and Sachiko Sakamaki, "Fukuda Challenges Aso in Race to Be Prime Minister", Bloomberg.com, 14 September 2007.
- ^ "Get someone else," The Economist, 1 September 2008.
- ^ Appointment of Mr. Yasuo Fukada, President of Japan Canoe Federation as Prime Minister of Japan, canoeicf.com, 26 September 2007; accessed 10 October 2009.
- ^ Japan lawmakers seek to replace war shrine, ShanghaiDaily.com, 16 June 2006.
- ^ "Japan's finance chief not to run for ruling party president", Associated Press (International Herald Tribune), 14 September 2007.
- ^ "Former FM Aso acknowledges probable defeat in Japan's leadership race", Associated Press (International Herald Tribune), 16 September 2007.
- ^ "Fukuda Chosen to Replace Abe as Japan's Prime Minister" Archived 20 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine, VOA News, 23 September 2007.
- ^ Mainichi Daily News. 25 September 2007. Retrieved 26 September 2007.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Fukuda installed as Japanese PM", BBC News, 25 September 2007.
- ^ "Japan's new leadership sworn in", BBC News, 26 September 2007.
- ^ "Censure passed against Japan PM". bbc.co.uk. 11 June 2008. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
- ^ afp.google.com, Japan PM humiliated by parliament Archived 14 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Censure motion offered against Fukuda". UPI. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
- ^ Boost for Japan's beleaguered PM, bbc.co.uk; accessed 18 June 2015.
- ^ Kato, Taku (1 September 2008). "Fukuda Resigns as Japan's Prime Minister Citing Gridlock". Bloomberg. Retrieved 1 September 2008.
- ^ "Login". Retrieved 7 June 2015.
- ^ "Beleaguered Japanese PM resigns". CNN. 1 September 2008. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
- ^ afp.google.com, Japan PM Fukuda resigns Archived 20 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Taro Aso confirmed as Japan's new Prime Minister, theaustralian.news.com; accessed 18 June 2015.
- ^ "Xi and Abe:Who wanted a summit more?- Nikkei Asian Review". Archived from the original on 8 December 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
- ^ Andy Sharp (1 August 2014). "Ex-Japan Premier Fukuda May Have Met Xi on China Trip, Jiji Says". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
- ^ "Wang Yi Meets with Former Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and Representatives from Economic Circle of Japan".
- ^ "Japan experience points to golden opportunity for China in US trade war". 9 July 2019.
- ^ Negara, Kementerian Sekretariat. "Presiden Hargai Peran Yasuo Fukuda | Sekretariat Negara". www.setneg.go.id. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
- ^ "Rape Debate In Japan". CBS. 2 September 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2008.
- ^ "Fukuda accused of defending rape", Japan Times, 4 July 2003.
- ^ "Japan rape victims 'asking for it'," BBC News, 3 July 2003.
- ^ "Fukuda denies making remarks defending alleged gang rapists, Kyodo, 8 July 2003.
- ^ "Profile: Yasuo Fukuda". BBC. 23 September 2007. Retrieved 14 June 2008.
- ^ Talmadge, Eric (12 January 2008). "Japan to Resume Its Mission in Indian Ocean". Associated Press (Washington Post). Retrieved 14 June 2008.
- ^ "Members of the Abe Cabinet". Retrieved 28 September 2007. NB: Despite the title of the page it is indeed the list of members of Fukuda Cabinet.
- ^ Masami Ito (26 September 2007). "Fukuda elected prime minister in Diet faceoff". The Japan Times. Retrieved 26 September 2007.
- ^ "Japanese prime minister reshuffles Cabinet". Associated Press. 1 August 2008. Archived from the original on 19 August 2008. Retrieved 2 August 2008.
- ^ "President Mesić meets Japanese Emperor Akihito". HINA. 5 March 2008. Archived from the original on 2 February 2009. Retrieved 10 March 2008.
- ^ "Japan-Croatia Summit Meeting". Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet. 5 March 2008. Retrieved 10 March 2008.