He is described as more realistic and willing to make some concessions
The new "leader of Japan" focuses on getting his country out of the "Corona" pandemic
Suga during the ceremony to take power.
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Shinzo Abe stepped down from the ruling for health reasons.
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As expected, Suga Yoshihide won the elections to lead the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, after the decision of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to step down from power for health reasons.
Suga defeated his rivals: Keshia Fumio and Ishiba Shigeru, in a landslide victory.
Suga, who was the cabinet secretary throughout Abe’s long rule, has no glamorous image, nor a celebrity personality.
But he is known as a stubborn political warrior, who wants to reform the Liberal Democratic Party from within, and is forcing a gradual but profound change in the key institutions that dominate Japanese society.
Clear mandate
There is no general election in Japan before the fall of next year.
But speculation indicates that Suga could dissolve parliament and go to elections by next November.
The opposition parties are disorganized and divided.
Many polling companies believe that any early election could be in the interest of the LDP.
If the party manages to score another victory, that would give Suga a clear mandate to govern.
Most of Suga's political experience is concentrated in the domestic sphere, not foreign issues, although he used to accompany Abe on trips abroad and sit next to him during talks with world leaders.
Suga has also served as the government's chief spokesperson since 2012. Through this role, he publicly denounced South Korea for demanding what he described as “unreasonable demands” for compensation related to the period when Japan was occupying the Korean peninsula, Before World War II.
Shigito Nagai, head of the Japanese team at Oxford Economics, which provides research and forecasts of global economic conditions, believes that Soga is less hawkish and more realistic than his competitors.
"We are still not sure how Suga will perform as prime minister and chief diplomat in his country," Nagai said, "but he could adopt a more practical approach, perhaps more willing to make some concessions than others in his party."
"But he cannot go against the policies set by his party, which seems to be showing no flexibility in its stance toward South Korea," Nagai added.
The general mood is negative
Nagai believes that the mood in Japan is more negative now, towards South Korea than the attitude towards China.
He says that there is an economic reason for this, adding: “Japan’s dependence on China is much greater than its dependence on South Korea.
The great challenge for any Japanese prime minister is balancing the relationship between China and the United States.
"I believe that under the rule of Suga, Japan will continue to be the most important ally of America, while trying to be on good terms with China."
Nikai Toshihiro is one of the most important supporters of Soga in the Liberal Democratic Party, and one of the party's most supportive members of China.
As head of government, Suga might appoint Nikkei as secretary-general of the LDP, which would allow him to maintain his powerful influence.
This will frustrate the deputy editor of the conservative Sankei newspaper, Yasuo Naito, who supports the LDP.
“What worries me is that the Nikkei can persuade Suga to absorb China economically,” Naito said.
I think that this is a mistake, especially when China and the United States are engaged in a new cold war. ”
"South Korea criticizes Japan," Naito added. "There is a strong anti-Japanese feeling in South Korea at this time.
But the Chinese are more politically astute.
And they are thinking about the benefits they get from the relationship with Japan.
Therefore, it is wrong to think that the fact that Soga is hard-liner towards South Korea, could be the same towards China, for they are two completely different countries, and the two situations are also different.
In an editorial published the day after the selection of Suga as leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, the Chinese newspaper "Global Times", which presents the prevailing (and often hard-line) political opinion, congratulated Suga, and said: "This will preserve cooperation with China and will be the best option for Japan."
She also said, "Japan is no longer a threat to China," and the financial market appears to have been reassured by the smooth transfer of power in Tokyo.
Equity prices and the Japanese yen remained stable.
No changes
Investors are expecting no major changes in economic policy, given the Suga rule.
He explained that his priority is helping Japan to get out of the Corona pandemic, and indicated that he would support low interest rates and more financial incentives, aimed at helping less developed regions in Japan.
Early in his second term as prime minister, Abe created his popular program known as "Epinomics," meaning the Three Stocks, and was based on the concept of structural reform.
Shigito Nagai, of Economics Oxford, hopes that Suga will have the energy to complete this program, adding that “Suga has a good track record in dealing with bureaucracy, but the government has an appalling record when it comes to dealing with financial technology, mobile phones, and technology. the information".
Dakan Bartlett is a former BBC correspondent in Tokyo
Suga is seeking his first telephone conversation with the President of China
The new Japanese Prime Minister, Yoshihide Suga, is seeking to make his first phone call, after taking office with Chinese President Xi Jinping next Friday night, according to a report published by the Japanese Fuji News Network yesterday, citing government officials, who did not reveal their identity.
"Bloomberg News" quoted the report as saying that Suga is likely to stress the importance of bilateral contacts, regarding the various aspects of concern between the two regional neighbors.
This will be the first formal exchange of views between the leaders of the two countries, since last December, when Shinzo Abe was still head of the Japanese government.
Tokyo - dr
Most of Suga's political experience is concentrated in the domestic sphere, not foreign issues, although he would accompany Abe on trips abroad, and sit next to him, during talks with world leaders.
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