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　　Former Japanese Foreign Minister Taro¹ Aso is widely expected to assume the post of Prime Minister this week. Aso is a pro-American leader whose party faces a serious political challenge if it does not address domestic economic fears.
外界普遍预计，日本前外相麻生太郎这个星期将出任首相职务。麻生是一位亲美的领导人，不过如果他所在的政党不解决国内民众对经济的担忧，那就会面临严峻的政治挑战。
Taro Aso's grandfather, Shigeru Yoshida, and father-in-law, Zenko Suzuki, were both Prime Ministers of Japan. Now, the former foreign minister is overwhelmingly likely to assume the top job himself.
麻生太郎的外祖父吉田茂和岳父铃木善幸都出任过日本首相。现在，这位前日本外相自己也极有可能担任这个最高职务。
Members of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, or LDP, are expected to elect him president of the party in Monday's upcoming election, lining² him up to become prime minister.
日本执政党自民党党员在星期一举行的投票中预期会选举麻生太郎担任该党总裁，进而顺理成章地成为日本首相。
Despite his privileged background, Aso is widely seen as a having a populist appeal. He is a former Olympic sharpshooter who enjoys Japanese comic books and speaks with what some describe as a blunt style.
尽管麻生来自特权阶层，但人们普遍认为他有民粹主义的色彩。他曾经是奥林匹克神枪手，还喜欢日本漫画书，有人说，他说话从来不转弯抹角，而是直言不讳。
Taniguchi Tomohiko, an adjunct professor at Tokyo's Keio University, says Aso is likely to cooperate closely with the United States.
日本庆应义塾大学副教授伊藤友彦认为，麻生有可能跟美国密切合作。伊藤友彦说：
"He's not a shy person to acknowledge that the United States is the first, and second, and third, and fourth most important nation for Japan," said Taniguchi Tomohiko.
“他会毫不掩饰地承认，对于日本来说，美国是头等重要的国家。”
Taniguchi says Aso will push hard to break a legislative³ stalemate that halted Japan's role in refueling vessels⁴ assisting U.S.-led stabilization⁵ efforts in Afghanistan. Washington views Tokyo's contribution as important and has called for it to resume as soon as possible.
伊藤友彦说，麻生将会极力设法打破日本在通过一项立法方面陷入的僵局，这一僵局使得日本无法为船只加油，以协助以美国为首稳定阿富汗局势的努力。华盛顿认为东京在这方面的贡献非常重要，并要求日本尽快恢复加油。
Aso has angered Beijing in the past with statements of support for Taiwan, which governs itself but is seen by China as a breakaway province. Jeffrey Kingston, Asian Studies Professor at Temple University in Japan, says Aso is likely to temper his China views to accommodate the United States.
"Washington wants to make China feel like a stakeholder in the international system," said Kingston. "And, I think if Aso does indeed win, we're going to see a toning down of his rhetoric⁶ and moderation of his views."
The LDP has governed Japan for nearly all of its history following defeat in World War Two. However, Kingston says the party is expected to face its most serious challenge yet, in general elections expected to take place later this year.
日本自从二战战败之后，自民党几乎一直是日本的执政党。然而，金斯敦认为该党在预计今年晚些时候举行的大选中可能将面临从未遇到过的最严峻挑战。
"The LDP is definitely on the ropes. There's just been a series of blunders, mistakes, and setbacks," added Kingston. "And they haven't really addressed the issues that people really care about - you know, the bread and butter stuff."
金斯敦说：“自民党肯定将面临岌岌可危的处境。日本目前存在着各种各样的失误、错误和挫折。他们还没有真正解决这些人民切实关心的问题，就是面包和黄油这样的问题。”
Japan's stagnant⁷ economy is the dominant⁸ political issue right now, and the country's two previous prime ministers resigned abruptly⁹ over perceived mishandling of economic affairs.
日本停滞的经济是目前主导性的政治问题，两位前任首相据说是因为处理经济问题不当而突然辞职。
Aso has vowed¹⁰ to stimulate¹¹ Japan's domestic economy, possibly by increasing government expenditures¹². Opponents say he will slow the pace of economic reforms Japan sorely needs.
麻生承诺要刺激日本国内经济，有可能会通过增加政府开支来实现。反对人士认为，麻生会放慢日本迫切需要的经济改革步伐。