Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO1889
2006-04-07 08:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
how-toVZCZCXYZ0007 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHKO #1889 0970830 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 070830Z APR 06 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0669 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1589 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 7940 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 7769
UNCLAS TOKYO 001889
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL JA
SUBJECT: OZAWA WINS DPJ PRESIDENCY
REF: A. TOKYO 1839
¶B. TOKYO 1824
¶C. TOKYO 1734
Ichiro Ozawa was elected interim president of the Democratic
Party of Japan on April 7, beating Naoto Kan by a 119-72
vote. The margin of victory was larger
than had been expected by Japanese pundits, reflecting more
support for Ozawa than he had in the past from the party's
mainstream. As reported earlier, Ozawa is a venerable
Japanese politician whose pro-U.S. stance has long been known
to the Embassy (his pre-vote speech affirmed his view that
the U.S.-Japan security treaty is the pillar of Japanese
security policy, while he advocated closer ties with Asian
neighbors). He is expected to bring experience back to the
party's leadership, something that was sorely lacking under
Seiji Maehara. The party's weakened state, however, suggests
that his influence on issues affecting U.S. interests will be
limited. Ozawa will serve until September, when the regular
party presidential election is scheduled to take place.
Ozawa is expected to name his shadow cabinet on Monday, April
¶10.
SCHIEFFER