Renewed pressure for Japan's Mori to resign

Support for Mori in some opinion polls has slipped below 10 percent

TOKYO, Japan -- Pressure is mounting on Japan's Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori to resign as opposition parties deliberate on a plan to submit a no-confidence vote motion against him.

The parties met Tuesday night to discuss how and when to submit the motion, according to Kengo Tsuchiya, a spokesman for the Social Democratic Party.

Tsuchiya refused to give details of the plan, but it's widely expected that the motion will be submitted soon after the Lower House of Parliament passes the 2001 budget on Friday.

If Upper House voting passes the motion, the ruling coalition's grip on power will not immediately end, but could set the stage for deadlock and a snap Lower House election.

Though the opposition alone does not have the votes to push the motion through Parliament, it would be another embarrassment for Mori.

Approval for Mori below 10 percent

Mori's support in public opinion polls has fallen below 10 percent over a string of gaffes and scandals.

He's also facing pressure from his own Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

Taku Yamasaki the party's former party policy chief on Wednesday said he had not decided whether to vote for or against Mori in the motion.

Former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, one of LDP's most powerful leaders has admitted that the public is very critical of Mori, saying it's an issue that must be addressed at the party's annual convention on March 13.

No election for the powerful Lower House is mandated until 2004, following last June's election in which LDP lost its majority.

Mori barely survived a no-confidence motion last year when an LDP faction threatened to join the opposition voting bloc.

He has repeatedly vowed to stay on and it is not clear who may succeed him were he to resign.

The Associated Press & Reuters contributed to this report.

Japan's parliament

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