安倍氏が大差で自民総裁に | 英語のニュース

National News

Abe elected head of LDP

Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe was elected head of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) by a landslide Sept. 20, a victory that is expected to lead to his election as prime minister.

Abe won 464 of 702 votes, a majority of 66 percent. Foreign Minister Taro Aso came in second with 136 votes and Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki won 102 votes.

Abe, 52, would be Japan's youngest postwar prime minister and the first born after World War II.

He is relatively inexperienced, having joined the Diet in 1993 and taken his first Cabinet position only a year ago.

The son of a foreign minister and grandson of a prime minister, Abe is also a proponent of a hard line against North Korea, and a more militarily assertive Japan.

He is expected to seek to change the pacifist constitution to give the military more freedom of action and bolster the security alliance with Japan's top ally, the United States.

Despite his inexperience, Abe came to the vote with high support ratings inside and outside the party and the blessing of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who remains widely popular after five years as prime minister. (AP)

Shukan ST: Sept. 29, 2006

●英字新聞社ジャパンタイムズによる英語学習サイト。英語のニュース、英語教材、TOEIC、リスニング、英語の発音、ことわざ、などのコンテンツを無料で提供。
	脚注を印刷吹き出し表示フレーム表示
National News Abe elected head of LDP Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe was elected head of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) by a landslide Sept. 20, a victory that is expected to lead to his election as prime minister. Abe won 464 of 702 votes, a majority of 66 percent. Foreign Minister Taro Aso came in second with 136 votes and Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki won 102 votes. Abe, 52, would be Japan's youngest postwar prime minister and the first born after World War II. He is relatively inexperienced, having joined the Diet in 1993 and taken his first Cabinet position only a year ago. The son of a foreign minister and grandson of a prime minister, Abe is also a proponent of a hard line against North Korea, and a more militarily assertive Japan. He is expected to seek to change the pacifist constitution to give the military more freedom of action and bolster the security alliance with Japan's top ally, the United States. Despite his inexperience, Abe came to the vote with high support ratings inside and outside the party and the blessing of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who remains widely popular after five years as prime minister. (AP) Shukan ST: Sept. 29, 2006 (C) All rights reserved