Suga bows out of party vote, paves way for new LDP leader

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Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. nosedive / ˈnoʊzˌdaɪv / (v.) – to make a sudden, extreme drop
    Example:

    I’m not surprised by the show’s nosediving popularity; the recent episodes have been horrible.


  2. dash / dæʃ / (v.) – to ruin or destroy
    Example:

    The latest problem dashed all hope that they would finish the project on time.


  3. virtually / ˈvɜr tʃu ə li / (adv.) – almost entirely, nearly
    Example:

    The store was virtually empty; I only saw one other customer.


  4. candidacy / ˈkæn dɪ də si / (n.) – the state of being a candidate
    Example:

    Not too many people are excited about his candidacy, so I don’t think he’s going to win the election.


  5. factional / ˈfæk ʃə nl / (adj.) – involving groups inside a larger group, especially those with differing beliefs and opinions
    Example:

    Factional fighting between different sides of the party is common.


Article

Read the text below.

Amid growing criticism of his handling of the pandemic, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said Sept. 3 he won’t run for the leadership of the governing party later this month, paving the way for a new prime minister after just a year in office.


Suga told reporters that heading Japan’s pandemic response and campaigning to lead his governing Liberal Democratic Party at the same time divided his energies.


“I have decided not to run for the party leadership elections, as I would like to focus on coronavirus measures,” Suga told reporters who rushed to his office after the news broke.


Suga has faced criticism and nosediving public support over a coronavirus response seen as too slow and limited and for holding the Olympics despite the public’s health concerns. His hope of having the Olympic festivities help turn around his plunging popularity was also dashed.


The Liberal Democrats and their coalition partner have a majority in the Diet, meaning whoever wins the Sept. 29 party vote is virtually guaranteed to become the new prime minister.


The official start of the party campaign is Sept. 17. Candidacy requires factional support largely controlled by party heavyweights, and their choices may not match those favored in public opinion surveys. (AP)


This article was provided by The Japan Times Alpha.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • The article says that the winner of the Sept. 29 party vote is virtually guaranteed to become the new prime minister. Do you think this person will continue to be the prime minister after the general election later this year, or will another party take control? Why? Discuss.
  • Suga spent just one year in office. Some people worry that this is the beginning of Japan’s next “revolving door” era, when prime ministers resign after just one year in office. Do you agree? In your opinion, is it bad to have the prime minister change so often? Why or why not? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Candidacy requires factional support largely controlled by party heavyweights, and their choices may not match those favored in public opinion surveys. Do you think this is acceptable, or would you prefer a political system in which voters directly choose the prime minister? Why? Discuss.
  • Suga has faced nosediving public support in recent months. In your opinion, how important is it for politicians to pay attention to their public support? Do you think public support polls are really accurate? Why or why not? Discuss.