Japan PM in surprise resignation

[EV_Ares]

Japan's Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has announced his resignation at a news conference at his official residence.

The surprise announcement means the prime minister is resigning after fewer than 12 months in the post.

His government has suffered chronic unpopularity. Lost pension records, an unpopular healthcare scheme and a sliding economy have added to his woes.

Mr Fukuda has also been frustrated by the upper house of parliament, which is controlled by the opposition.

"If we are to prioritise the people's livelihoods, there cannot be a political vacuum from political bargaining, or a lapse in policies," Mr Fukuda said, according to Reuters.

"We need a new team to carry out policies."

He did not speak of calling an immediate election, raising the prospect of a leadership election within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

A general election must be held by September 2009.

Link to entire article on BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7591969.stm

[FarCenter]

1. Fukuda Quits as Japan Prime Minister Citing Gridlock

LDP = Liberal Democratic Party - not liberal, not democratic

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aV46gRZWVr6Q&refer=home

...

``The 53-year-old LDP is reaching the end of its political shelf life,'' said Masayuki Fukuoka, a professor of political science at Hakuoh University north of Tokyo. ``Koizumi promised to change Japan by destroying the LDP, and that's what we're seeing -- an eviscerated party on its last legs.''

...

Fukuda's approval rating has fallen by almost half since he took office last September. Public support for his Cabinet fell to 29 percent, down 9 percentage points from early August, the Nikkei newspaper reported earlier today, citing its own telephone survey. Fukuda's disapproval rating rose 14 points to 63 percent. Nikkei said it contacted 1,549 households and obtained 866 valid responses. The newspaper didn't provide a margin of error.

Fukuda replaced Abe, who cited his inability ``to gain the trust of the people'' for stepping down. Abe resigned after his approval rating fell to below 30 percent.

...

``The LDP has had no leadership, and is in the process of disintegrating,'' Gerald Curtis, a political science professor at Columbia University, said before Fukuda's statement today. ``Japan is a political basket case.''