Former anchorwoman bids for Japanese premiership
Monday, 08 Sep 2008 16:19
Yuriko Koike, Japan's first female defence minister, becomes first woman from ruling party to run for prime minister (File licensed under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.0 License)
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A TV journalist turned politician has launched a bid to become Japan's first-ever female prime minister.
Former news anchor and minister Yuriko Koike is the first female member of the ruling Liberal Democratic party (LDP) to run for the premiership.
LDP elections on September 22nd will decide who the party, which dominates Japan's lower house, submits for PM.
Veteran lawmaker Taro Aso, the LDP's secretary general, is the favourite to replace Yasuo Fukada, who unexpectedly announced his resignation earlier this month amid faltering confidence in the government's ability to manage the economy.
Ms Koike told reporters in Tokyo her focus as PM would be economic reform.
"I'd like to pursue a clear strategy for economic growth while continuing to invigorate the economy through reform," the 56-year-old said.
Ms Koike turned to politics in the early 1990s after beginning her career as a journalist.
A fluent English and Arabic speaker, she has switched party allegiances several times and was given ministerial briefs for the environment and defence.
Japan currently has one of the lowest rates of female participation in politics in the developed world.
"I have received the enthusiastic support of my colleagues," Ms Koike said of her chances.
"In order to break through the deadlock facing Japanese society, I believe the country might as well have a female candidate."