Japanese premier in surprise resignation

JAPAN:LESS THAN a year since taking office and just a month after a last-ditch cabinet reshuffle aimed at restoring his dismal approval ratings, Japan's prime minister, Yasuo Fukuda, abruptly stepped down yesterday, blaming political gridlock.

Mr Fukuda (72) announced his resignation at an emergency press conference last night, blaming "utter confusion" in the country's divided parliament for his government's failure to deal with mounting problems, including rises in fuel and oil prices.

"If we are to prioritise the people's livelihoods, there cannot be a political vacuum from political bargaining, or a lapse in policies. We need a new team to carry out policies," he said. "I thought now is the best time to resign to avoid a political vacuum. The lives of the people must come first."

Mr Fukuda's short reign was plagued by the legacy of his predecessor, Shinzo Abe, who handed control over parliament's upper house to the opposition Democratic Party (DPJ) after leading the ruling Liberal Democrats (LDP) to their worst defeat yet.

The Democrats have used their majority to block the coalition government's legislative agenda and key appointments, including the governor of the central bank.

DPJ secretary general Yukio Hatoyama led criticism of Mr Fukuda last night, calling his decision to step down after the reshuffle "irresponsible". He said Mr Fukuda should have called a general election to seek a fresh public mandate, not resigned.

Support for Mr Fukuda, a moderate conservative who seldom looked at ease in office, never took off and his cabinet was quickly battered by a series of problems, including a mishandled pension scandal and the faltering economy.

The resurgent Democrats also stymied one of the prime minister's key legislative pledges: extending Japan's co-operation with US-led coalition forces in Afghanistan. Mr Fukuda's plan to break the parliamentary deadlock by proposing a coalition with the Democrats further damaged his popularity.

A $16.5 billion (€11.3 billion) government stimulus package announced last week failed to revive his approval ratings, which fell below 30 per cent, and is not expected to stop the world's second-biggest economy from sliding into recession, ending the expansion that began under Junichiro Koizumi.

Attention now shifts to Mr Fukuda's successor, with most bets on the man he picked last month for the key position of LDP secretary general, Taro Aso.

A former foreign minister and popular conservative, Mr Aso (67) is considered one of the few men in the charisma-free LDP likable enough to lead the party to victory, despite his long history of controversial bon mots. Last month, he infuriated the Democrats when he compared them to the German Nazi party.

Mr Fukuda's resignation has triggered perhaps the most dangerous period for the LDP in its half-century of almost continuous rule. Although still in control of parliament's more powerful lower house, the party is bereft of political talent and has supplied two weak prime ministers in a row since the resignation in 2006 of Mr Koizumi.

The resurgent Democrats, meanwhile, have made inroads into the LDP's rural base and won support among farmers. Although many analysts doubt they are ready to take power, the Democrats will try to press home their advantage by demanding a general election.

Mr Fukuda will stay in office long enough for his party to choose a new leader, who must then convince parliament he can continue leading the coalition government. Whoever succeeds Mr Fukuda must either call an election or battle through the same political deadlock that defeated the prime minister.

Mr Fukuda hinted at his frustration last night. "It is a fact that it took very long to decide on anything," he said.