Japan’s finance minister Yoshihiko Noda has been elected as the head of the ruling Democratic party, and is likely to soon become the country’s next prime minister as well. Japan’s next prime minister will undoubtedly inherit the region’s financial situation as Europe’s crisis deepens and economies across the globe struggle to stabilize, as well as the resurgent yen, new energy policies, the nuclear crisis and the rebuilding of the devastated northeast coast.
A political analyst in Tokyo, Hiro Katsumata, said “Noda needs to call for a national election within the next two years no matter what. The main challenge for Mr. Noda will be the cohesion in the party and to win in the national election.”
The latest leader of the Democratic Party, who also served as prime minister, was Naoto Kan. He resigned last week as a result of heavy criticism following the earthquake and tsunami in March, as well as the economic status of the country.
Steve Chao reported that “the question is whether the next leader will overcome the hurdles Naoto Kan did not manage to overcome, and, he has to show the public he is able to make the tough decisions that will help the country overcome its economic hurdles.”