Profiles of the Leaders
Profiles of the Leaders G8&EU
| Japan / Canada / French / Germany / Italian / Russian / U.K. / America / EU |
|
|||
 Prime Minister Yasuo FukudaAge: 71 Family: wife, 2 sons, 1 daughter Hobbies: listening to classical music, speed walking Summit participation: 1 |
|||
Crucial period toward political buoyancy
Son of former Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda; this will be the first time two generations of the same family will have participated in Summits as Prime Ministers of Japan. After graduating from Waseda University's Faculty of Political Science and Economics, Fukuda worked as a company employee and as his father's secretary for 17 years, and was first elected as a member of the House of Representatives (lower house) at the age of 53. Demonstrated distinguished regulating capacity as the Chief Cabinet Secretary in both Yoshiro Mori and Junichiro Koizumi's cabinets, and until his resignation after the unpaid pension issue was revealed in 2004, was the longest serving Chief Cabinet Secretary, with a record of 1,289 days at the post. After previous Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's resignation in '07, Fukuda won the Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election and was subsequently installed as prime minister. However because the opposition parties hold the majority of seats in the House of Councilors (upper house), the resulting "deformed parliament" - in which the ruling parties hold the majority in the lower house but opposition parties hold the majority in the upper house - has made government control difficult, and Fukuda's command of the Summit Chair could be the key to political buoyancy. |
|
|||
 Prime Minister Stephen HarperAge: 49 Family: wife, 1 son, 1 daughter Hobbies: reading, watching films Summit participation: 3 |
|||
Reforms under way regarding relations with the U.S.
Attained a Masters Degree in economics at Calgary University, where he returned to lecture while participating in the establishment of the Reform Party of Canada in 1987. Harper attracted attention for his lecture on economic policy at the party's inaugural convention. In 2002 became leader of the Canadian Alliance, and in '03 merged with the Progressive Conservative Party to form the Conservative Party of Canada, of which he became the original leader. This party then won the '06 General Election, transferring political power for the first time in 12 years and installing Harper as the Prime Minister. As well as proceeding with reforms regarding Canada's relations with the United States, last year expressed his intention to reject the Kyoto Accord's targets regarding environmental issues, on the grounds that they would hinder economic growth. An asthma sufferer, as a child was unable to participate in team sports such as hockey, and as a result, one of his hobbies now is writing history books on the sport. |
|
|||
 President Nicolas SarkozyAge: 53 Family: wife Hobbies: jogging, stamp collecting Summit participation: 2 |
|||
Experiencing a decline in support
A second-generation Hungarian immigrant who worked as a lawyer before entering politics. During his time as Minster of the Interior, Sarkozy was involved in controversy when he called rioting youths "the scum of society," but attained a proven track record with his hard-line law and order policies. Amid expectations of reform in 2007, he became the first French President to be born after the war. Accused of being "too flamboyant" after taking a vacation immediately after winning the presidential election, stories about his private life precede Sarkozy, including his third marriage to a former top model this January, not long after divorcing his ex-wife Cecilia. Known to hate tobacco, and not to touch alcohol, including wine, he is a lover of chocolate. Sarkozy is pro-American and holds strong liberalist views, but has achieved little in terms of economic policies, resulting in declining support. |
|
|||
 Chancellor Angela MerkelAge: 53 Family: husband Hobbies: watching opera, gardening, taking walks Summit participation: 3 |
|||
Previously a physicist
Germany's first female Chancellor, installed in 2005, Merkel was a raised in former East Germany and was a physicist before entered into politics "to help democratization" after the collapse of the Berlin Wall. Taken under the wing by former Chancellor Kohl, she was often referred to as "Kohl's daughter," but claimed to have "parted from Kohl" surrounding the financial scandals of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) to which she belongs. With experience as the Environment Minister, measures against global warming are Merlel's lifework. As Chair at the previous Heiligendamm Summit, she made great efforts to introduce target values for the reduction of greenhouse gases, and aims for the saturation of proactive courses cited by the European Union (EU). Despite being said to be ineloquent and lacking glamour, her good faith and down-to-earth talking are her strong points, for which the public have accepted as normal virtues. |
|
|||
 Prime Minister Silvio BerlusconiAge: 71 Family: wife, 1 son, 1 daughter Hobbies: listening to music, watching soccer Summit participation: 7 |
|||
Newly-elected Prime Minister Berlusconi returns to the Summit
In January of this year, the coalition government led by Prime Minister Romano Prodi (68) collapsed after it lost the majority of seats in the Senate due to a split among the smaller factions. In response, both the Senate (upper house) and Chamber of Deputies (lower house) disbanded and Prime Minister Prodi announced his resignation. The next prime minister, who will attend the Summit, will be decided by the results of April's General Election. The General Election will be contested by the centre-right alliance led by previous prime minister Silvio Berlusconi (71), and the centre-left alliance led by previous mayor of Rome Walter Veltroni (52). According to recent opinion polls, the centre-right alliance has a slight lead, making Berlusconi's return to the Summit stage for the first time in three years, a possibility.(And he made it. - April 15, 2008) |
|
|||
 President Dmitry Medvedev (currently First Deputy Prime Minister)Age: 42 Family: wife, 1 son Hobbies: swimming, rock music Summit participation: 1 |
|||
Youngest head of state since the Second World War
Born in the same city of St. Petersburg as President Putin. After completing a postgraduate degree at a university there, Medvedev worked as a legal advisor on the International Relations Committee of the St. Petersburg Mayors Office, headed by Putin, which led him to become the youngest head of state in the post-war history of the former Soviet Union and Russia. As Chair of the government affiliated, state-controlled natural gas project Gazprom, Medvedev serves as the First Deputy Prime Minister of the Putin administration. In response to rumors that even after his appointment as President in May, Medvedev would remain under the influence of Putin's political power, the man himself boldly replied, "Russia is a country led by the President; there is only one President." A fan of U.K. rock group Pink Floyd, Medvedev wears jeans around the house - a leader from the new generation who shows no sign of the traits of the former Soviet Union. |
|
|||
 Prime Minister Gordon BrownAge: 57 Family: wife, 2 sons Hobbies: watching football, tennis, watching films Summit participation: 1 |
|||
Ardent football fan
One of the party members who contributed to the establishment of the New Labour course, Brown held prominent posts in the previous Blair administration, including the Chancellor of the Exchequer (treasury minister), as the government's No.2. He was installed as prime minister in June 2007 after the resignation of the previous Prime Minister Blair, who was forced to resign as a result of the stalemate in the war in Iraq. Brown is an advocate of the G13 Summit expansion argument to add China, India, Indonesia, Brazil, Mexico and South Africa to the list of G8 nations. As an ardent supporter of a professional football team in his home nation of Scotland, he played an enthusiastic role in England's 2018 FIFA World Cup bid. Regarded as being a steady worker but a little indecisive. At the end of last year the ruling Labour Party's illicit donation scandal was exposed, making government control increasingly difficult. |
|
|||
 President George Walker BushAge: 62 Family: wife, 2 daughters Hobbies: watching baseball, jogging, fishing Summit participation: 8 |
|||
Less than one year to the end of his term
After graduating from Yale University, gained an MBA at Harvard University. During that time attained experience as a pilot in the Texas Air National Guard. Subsequently established an oil drilling company and became involved in the ownership of the U.S. Major League baseball team Texas Rangers. In 1978 Bush failed to be elected into the House of Representatives, but became Governor of Texas in '95. Succeeded in beating the Democratic Party's Al Gore in the 2000 Presidential Election, and was installed as President in January 2001. Re-elected in 2004, Bush has less than one year of his term remaining; this will be his final Summit. With his grandfather a former Senator and his father a former President, Bush is blessed with a fine pedigree. While carrying the flag for the "war on terrorism," enjoys prestige among the country's conservatives, but is often ridiculed for his verbal blunders and gaffes. |
|
|||
 President Jose Manuel BarrosoAge: 52 Family: wife, 3 sons Hobbies: reading, listening to music Summit participation: 4 |
|||
Tenacious negotiating abilities
Graduated from the University of Lisbon's Law School and was elected as a member of the Assembly of the Portuguese Republic at the age of 29. For 2 years from 2000, carried out budget constraints as the Prime Minister of Portugal. Supported the war with Iraq with an emphasis on U.S.-European collaboration. Since being elected as the President of the European Commission in 2004, has exerted himself in coordinating interests within the EU, including its expansion to 27 nations through the addition of Bulgaria and Rumania. Has attended all the Summits since the UK Gleneagles Summit in 2005, in which the environment was the key theme. Has attained substantial achievements from an academic aspect, including becoming an affiliate professor at Georgetown University in the U.S., and Director of the Department for International Affairs at Lusiada University in his motherland. Renowned for his tenacious negotiating abilities, Barroso has also been labeled "straight-laced and boring." |
Profiles of the Leaders コンテンツ一覧
- Weather
-
21 (Mon) 22 (Tue) Toyako 
High -/- 53.6°F/12°C Low -/- 44.6°F/7°C Sapporo High -/- 66.2°F/19°C Low -/- 50°F/10°C Provided by JWA
