Hatoyama faces prime minister's questions for the first time in Japan

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama faced questions in the Diet (parliament) for the first time since his Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) was elected to lead the nation on Wednesday, saying that he and his government would "take responsibility for any failings."


Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama delivers his policy speech at Parliament in Tokyo, Japan, Monday, Oct. 26, 2009. Hatoyama declared Monday that reviving the nation's sluggish economy is top priority for his government and stressed seeking 'close and equal' ties with the U.S. in a speech outlining his main policy goals to parliament.(Xinhua/AFP Photo)
During the questioning, the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito took Hatoyama and his administration to task on a series of government policies, however, the DPJ shrugged off the questions, with Hatoyama pointing out that his government has "four years to put through the policies in its manifesto"

Hatoyama and the DPJ took questions from LDP president SadakazuTanigaki and New Komeito Secretary General Yoshihisa Inoue based on the party's future direction, U.S.-Japan relations and the economy.

Hatoyama was cautious in the answers he gave, saying that he would work hard to maintain relations with the U.S., but any decision on what to do about the Status of Forces Agreement with Japan's ally would take time and deliberation.

On the economy, Hatoyama said that any money spent would come from a realignment of the budget over the next four years.

Current budget requests for 2010 are at a record 95 trillion yen, and the government has set a December deadline for finding cuts before it is implemented in April next year.

Hatoyama also promised that there would be no increase in consumption tax, which currently stands at 5 percent, until the DPJ had "restored the public's faith in politics," a clear swipe at the previous LDP administration, led by former Prime Minister Taro Aso. That government had seen its approval ratings plummet into single figures.

On the closure of two dam projects in Japan, which has proved an emotive issue as residents in the construction works are set to face drastic changes to their futures, Hatoyama repeated that the works would have to be canceled to free up money for other areas of the budget.

The DPJ has a huge majority in the lower house after a Aug. 30 landslide victory in a general election, which it sees as a mandate to implement political changes in Japan over the next four years.

Source: Xinhua