In other words, the reelection of Hashimoto and Obuchi signals a new trend. To put it simply, it signals a change to politics centered on the party leader or prime minister. The conversion from bureaucratic leadership to political leadership has long been talked about, but political leadership, of course is centered on the prime minister. Progress has gradually been made in focussing on the prime minister over the past few years.
The safe choice of someone with few enemies produces party leaders with few leadership qualities
This was not the case, however, in the choice of Mori as party leader. The previous two party leaders came from the Obuchi faction and there was no candidate for the next party leader in the Obuchi faction. Koichi Kato was and is opposed to the alliance with the Komeito, so it was difficult to choose him as long as the alliance continued. There were problems in the Eto-Kamei faction, Yamazaki faction and Kono group, too. In this respect, Mori had the fewest enemies and represented the safest choice. This is the reason why Mori became party leader and prime minister.
Simply put, Mori was not chosen as party leader to push through some initiative or other. Nor was he chosen to confront a strong opposition, or resolve important policy issues; he was chosen through traditional factional dynamics. In the background, it was judged that support for the Democratic Party was leveling off, the economy was showing signs of recovery, and the party was sure of maintaining its majority in an election if it was allied with the Komeito.
However, as a result, someone greatly lacking in experience became prime minister. Numerous scandals surfaced and slips of the tongue were head throughout the nation, culminating in the words "divine country" which created an uproar. It is probably not correct to criticize this as an artculation of right-wing views. Prime Minister Mori does not hold such views. Rather, it must be said that his making superfulous comments in an effort to fit in with those around him, without any consideration for his own position as prime minister, shows a lack of leadership qualities.
