- published: 21 Jul 2015
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A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime minister is the presiding member and chairman of the cabinet. In a minority of systems, notably in semi-presidential systems of government, a prime minister is the official who is appointed to manage the civil service and execute the directives of the head of state.
In parliamentary systems fashioned after the Westminster system, the prime minister is the presiding and actual head of government and head of the executive branch. In such systems, the head of state or the head of state's official representative (i.e. the monarch, president, or governor-general) usually holds a largely ceremonial position, although often with reserve powers.
The prime minister is often, but not always, a member of parliament and is expected with other ministers to ensure the passage of bills through the legislature. In some monarchies the monarch may also exercise executive powers (known as the royal prerogative) that are constitutionally vested in the crown and may be exercised without the approval of parliament.
Keizō Obuchi (小渕 恵三, Obuchi Keizō, 25 June 1937 – 14 May 2000) was a Japanese politician who served in the House of Representatives for twelve terms, and ultimately as the 84th Prime Minister of Japan from 30 July 1998 to 5 April 2000. His political career ended when he suffered a serious and ultimately fatal stroke.
He was born in Nakanojō, Gunma Prefecture. At the age of 13, he transferred to a private middle school in Tokyo, and lived in the city for the rest of his life. In 1958, he enrolled at Waseda University as an English literature major, in hopes of becoming a writer. When his father died that same year, he decided to follow in his footsteps, so he changed his major to political science and graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in 1962.
Between January and September 1963, he traveled to thirty-eight countries, completely circumnavigating the globe and taking odd jobs as he went, as he was short on money. These included being a dishwasher, an assistant aikido instructor and a TV camera crew assistant in Berlin which was the most physically demanding. While in the United States, he met Robert F. Kennedy by walking into the attorney general's office.
Japanese may refer to:
A Foreign Minister or Minister of Foreign Affairs is generally a cabinet minister in charge of a state's foreign policy and relations.
In some nations, such as India, the Foreign Minister is referred to as the Minister for External Affairs or, as in the case of Brazil and of the former Soviet Union, as the Minister of External Relations. In the United States the equivalent to the foreign ministry is called the Department of State, and the equivalent position is known as the Secretary of State. Other common titles may include minister of foreign relations. In many Spanish and Portuguese speaking countries in Latin America, the foreign minister is colloquially called canciller (chancellor).
A foreign minister's powers can vary from government to government. In a classic parliamentary system, a foreign minister can potentially exert significant influence in forming foreign policy but when the government is dominated by a strong prime minister the foreign minister may be limited to playing a more marginal or subsidiary role in determining policy. Similarly, the political powers invested in the foreign minister are often more limited in presidential governments with a strong executive. Since the end of World War II, it has been common for both the foreign minister and defense minister to be part of an inner cabinet (commonly known as a national security council) in order to coordinate defense and diplomatic policy. Although the 19th and early 20th centuries saw many heads of government assume the foreign ministry, this practice has since become uncommon in most developed nations.
The Prime Minister of Japan (内閣総理大臣, Naikaku-sōri-daijin) is the head of government of Japan. The Prime Minister is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the National Diet and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office. He or she is the head of the Cabinet and appoints and dismisses the other Ministers of State; the literal translation of the Japanese name for the office is Minister for the Comprehensive Administration of the Cabinet or Minister who Presides over the Cabinet.
The office was created in 1885, four years before the enactment of the Meiji Constitution which mentions neither cabinet nor prime minister explicitly. It took its current form with the adoption of the current constitution in 1947.
The current Prime Minister is Shinzō Abe, who took office on December 26, 2012. He is the first former Prime Minister to resume the office since 1948.
The Prime Minister is designated by both houses of the Diet, before the conduct of any other business. For that purpose, each conducts a ballot under the run-off system. If the two houses choose different individuals, then a joint committee of both houses is appointed to agree on a common candidate. Ultimately, however, if the two houses do not agree within ten days, the decision of the House of Representatives is deemed to be that of the Diet. Therefore, the House of Representatives can theoretically ensure the appointment of any Prime Minister it wants. The candidate is then presented with their commission, and formally appointed to office by the Emperor.
Japanese/Nat Japanese Foreign Minister Keizo Obuchi has been chosen new leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, almost certainly assuring him the post of prime minister. Obuchi won out over former Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiroku Kajiyama and Health Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Having won Friday's ballot, he must now tackle Japan's worst economic recession since World War Two. Obuchi's selection follows the resignation of Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, who stepped down after the party's dismal performance in the July 12 upper house elections. Party elders and delegates from Japan's Liberal Democratic Party, or L-D-P, gathered in Tokyo to select a new leader. Outside, a lone protester stood quietly outside party headquarters. He stood for the growing disenchan...
Japanese/Nat Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi attempted, on Tuesday, to reassure the United States that his government would do everything possible to recover from its economic problems. Following his first U-S/Japan summit with U-S President Bill Clinton in New York, Obuchi reiterated his determination to put his country's economy back on track. However, the Japanese leader declined to say whether he had pledged any further action than already promised. As reports trickled in that Japan's latest deal aimed at stabilising its banking system was unravelling, Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi attempted to reassure everyone of his intention to ensure Japan's economic turn-around. Last Friday, Obuchi announced that he had reached an agreement with the opposition parties on banking...
Japanese/English Senior Japanese politicians braved a driving rain to attend the wake of former Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi on Monday. But the ruling party faced criticism over plans to hold a state funeral shortly before national elections next month. Obuchi died, aged 62, at a Tokyo hospital Sunday after a stroke six weeks ago left him comatose. Newly elected Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori and former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto led a procession of solemn-faced dignitaries. They gathered in an evening downpour to attend a vigil for Obuchi at a Tokyo funeral home. Former U-N Undersecretary Yasushi Akashi was among the mourners. He said that Obuchi was real Japanese leader and very balanced politician. SOUNDBITE (English) "He was a Japanese style leader, ver...
Japanese/Nat Chinese President Jiang Zemin has met his Japanese counterpart Keizo Obuchi. The Japanese Prime Minister who is expected to offer an apology for brutality the Chinese suffered during the invasion of the Chinese mainland in the 1930's and 40's. Earlier in the day the Chinese leader was given a traditional state welcome in Tokyo from the Japanese Emperor Akihito. Jiang is the first Chinese head of state to visit Japan since World War II. Chinese President, Jiang Zemin held a historic meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi. Top of the agenda was the issue of the apology for brutality during Japan's invasion and violent occupation of China earlier this century. The unequivocal apology sought by the Chinese, Obuchi was expected to offer a verbal exp...
Japanese/Nat Japan is a nation in doubt after its ruling party chose an affable but colourless consensus builder to replace outgoing Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto. Foreign Minister Keizo Obuchi is the new President of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and is almost certain to be elected as Prime Minister. It's hoped Keizo Obuchi will be able to lift Japan out of its current economic recession. The election for ruling party president was supposed to bring relief to this politically and economically fatigued nation. The election was also supposed to send a message that the government shared the public's desire for change and reform. Instead, scepticism among the people on the street appears to have grown since the affable but colourless Obuchi was picked to replace ou...
Japanese/Nat World leaders have been arriving in Tokyo for the funeral of Japanese prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, who died last month. The occasion is also providing the opportunity for meetings between visiting dignitaries, who include U-S president Bill Clinton, Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid, and Australian Prime Minister John Howard. Japan is in the grip of a political turmoil that began when Obuchi was suddenly hospitalised on April 2, fell into a coma and then replaced as premier three days later. Thousands of mourners - and dozens of government representatives from around the world - gathered in Tokyo on Thursday to honour the late Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, who died last month after suffering a stroke. Many world leaders are arriving in Japan, includi...
Japanese/Nat Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi continued his visit to Italy with a trip to one of the world's greatest archaeological treasures: Pompeii. The city was buried under a sea of molten lava from Mount Vesuvius in the year 79 A.D. and remains a living fossil of those ancient times. In his meetings with Italian officials, Japan's premier has advocated stable exchange rates between his country's yen currency and the new euro and a permanent Japanese seat on the United Nations Security Council. The visit is part of a three-nation European tour, which began in France and takes Obuchi to Germany next. Pompeii, in the looming shadow of Mount Vesuvius, remains one of Italy and the world's greatest wonders. It disappeared under lava when Mount Vesuvius erupted in...
English/Nat The man expected to be Japan's next Prime Minister has arrived in Manila for a meeting of ASEAN leaders. Keizo Obuchi will meet U-S Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on Sunday. The ASEAN Conference is expected to be dominated by the elections in Cambodia which are also being held on Sunday. Keizo Obuchi is making his debut as prime minister designate of Japan, during a brief trip to Manila for the ASEAN conference. Obuchi has just been elected president of the ruling Liberal Democrat Party (L-D-P) and will almost certainly be elected as Japan's new prime minister at a special parliamentary sitting on Thursday. After arriving in Manila, the premier-in-waiting is expected to hold separate talks with U-S Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Albright a...
An appreciation note to the sponsor, Keizo Obuchi (http://www.unesco.org/new/en/fellowsh...) for providing me USD 10,000 so that I can make an impact on my country, Malaysia and others who are interested in Arts in Education. This was one of the best and amazing journey in my life...destination unknown but joy is present already. Thank you!
T/I: 10:05:50 US Deputy Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers urged Japan Friday to tackle the country's mounting bad loans in a meeting with Foreign Minister Keizo Obuchi, as the yen rallied against the dollar for a second day buoyed by offshore speculators. On the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the key Nikkei average of 225 selected issued declined 156.79 yen or 1.02 percent to close the morning session at 15,204 yen or 1.02 percent to close the morning session at 15,204.75 yen. Traders said profit-taking was responsible mainly for the decline. SHOWS: TOKYO, JAPAN 19/6 VS currency traders at Ueda Harlow Foreign Currency Trading House; CU 136.35 on board; CU trader; CU 137.28; PULL out from screen quoting yen; TOKYO, JAPAN 19/6 SOT Dr. Kenneth Curtis, strategist and chief econo...