Japan PM's future in balance as campaign starts
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Campaigning began on Thursday for a Japanese upper house election on July 29 that could cost Prime Minister Shinzo Abe his job and usher in a period of policy stagnation if his ruling bloc loses heavily.
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The contest to succeed Shinzo Abe as Japan&#39;s next prime minister was thrown wide open Friday as dovish ruling party veteran Yasuo Fukuda announced he would run in what has turned into a two-way race.
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Japan's ex-foreign minister Taro Aso says his rival Yasuo Fukuda is most likely to win the contest to become PM.
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Yasuo Fukuda looks likely to win the leadership of Japan's ruling party on Sunday and become the nation's next prime minister, a job in which he will face a divided parliament and conflicting policy pressures.
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Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made two things clear during his first week in office -- growth is the key to fiscal reform, and his office will be the center of decision-making.
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Japan's prime minister came to office last September with plenty in his favor &#151; political pedigree, the blessing of a popular and powerful predecessor, and name recognition as a fighter for Japanese kidnapped by North Korea.
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Japan's prime minister-to-be Yasuo Fukuda selected his party lieutenants on Monday as he headed for battles with a combative opposition and calls for an early general election after his predecessor's hapless year in office.
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To keep the economy rolling, Japan's new leader must push ahead with reform
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After his diplomatic debut at the G8 summit of world leaders, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe heads home to harsh reality with his support tumbling weeks ahead of key elections.
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Shinzo Abe, a staunch advocate of a   bigger say for Japan in global affairs, was poised to win a   ruling party leadership contest on Wednesday, setting the stage   for his election as prime minister next week.
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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe&#39;s  support remains stuck at slightly above 30 percent, which many  analysts consider a crisis level, a survey showed on Monday,  just over a month before an upper house election.
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Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, back in Tokyo after an 11-day diplomatic mission to the Americas, hunkered down with senior ruling party officials on Friday to focus on a major reshuffle of cabinet and top party posts.
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Campaigning began on Thursday for a Japanese upper house election on July 29 that could cost Prime Minister Shinzo Abe his job and usher in a period of policy stagnation if his ruling bloc loses big.
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Japan's new prime minister, Shinzo Abe,   pledged on Tuesday to boost the country's role in global   affairs and revive respect for traditional values at home.
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The race to succeed outgoing PM Shinzo Abe hots up, as two key candidates indicate they plan to run.
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Japan's prime minister-to-be, Yasuo Fukuda, named his party lieutenants on Monday as he braced for a showdown with a combative opposition amid calls for early elections after a disastrous year for the ruling coalition.
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Yasuo Fukuda, a moderate ruling party veteran, was Saturday seen pulling ahead in the two-way race to become Japan&#39;s next prime minister, reports said.