By DPA
Tokyo : Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori has full support from the Japanese People's New Party to run in the July 29 House of Councillors' election, due to his experience in international affairs, anti-terrorist measures and poverty programs, a veteran Japanese politician said Wednesday.
"The Japanese Diet is full of members who are lazy and not very active, and I believe Mr Fujimori whom I consider as the last samurai can reinvigorate Japanese politicians," Shizuka Kamei, member of the People's New Party, said at a press conference.
Fujimori, 68, a Peruvian of Japanese descent who holds dual citizenship, was asked to join the small People's New Party to run in Japan's upper house election, one of the rights he can exercise as a Japanese citizen, Kamei said.
The political campaign opens on July 12, but the candidate is still under house arrest in Chile, and the permission to allow him to return to Japan is not yet granted by the Chilean government.
Japan's election law does not bar a person who is held under house arrest overseas from running in an election in Japan.
Currently Fujimori, with a Japanese passport, is considered "only travelling in Chile," according to Kamei.
Kamei, former member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, said he planned to meet with Foreign Minister Taro Aso on Thursday to demand an invitation to bring Fujimori back to Japan so that he could participate in the campaign.
In case Fujimori wins a seat, "it would be a major issue" if a nation tries to obstruct an elected politician to participate in his own country, Kamei said.
Kamei dismissed the charges pending against Fujimori in Peru,calling them retribution from political enemies currently running the country.
Fujimori, who ruled Peru between 1990 and 2000, faces extradition on 11 charges of corruption and human rights violations, including 25 murders, as well as a charge of usurpation of powers.
Japan's government has taken a strong stance against extraditing Fujimori, who fled to Japan and faxed his resignation as president.