Few candidates for Japan PM as Mori moves on

Former Japanese prime minister Ryutaro Hashimoto is the front-runner to take over from the unpopular Yoshiro Mori

In this story: Few takers Unlikely contender Economic package RELATED STORIES, SITES

By staff and wire reports

TOKYO, Japan -- The end of Yoshiro Mori's unhappy tenure as prime minister is now in sight, but few people expect a turnaround in Japan's political or economic environment.

Officials of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party confirmed on Thursday that an internal election would be held to find a new party president, and therefore a new leader for Japan, on April 24.

IN-DEPTH Mori's difficult decision   •  Q & A: Who will replace Mori?   •  Japan: A nation in crisis   •  Japan: What needs to change?   •  Profile of Mori

The decision to bring the curtain down on Mori's term in office came exactly a year to the day after he took the job. He will leave as one of the most unpopular prime ministers Japan has seen since World War Two.

While there exists a host of potential successors, not one has formally thrust a hand into the air because of the likelihood of suffering just as much of a political headache from spiraling economic woes.

Even worse: the new prime minister will serve until September, when Mori's term originally would have expired.

Few doubt that after the disaster of Mori's gaffe-prone tenure, the three-way coalition that makes up the LDP would lose significant power in the Diet, and may even lose power.

Few takers

Only former LDP policy chief Taku Yamasaki has said he will run in the internal leadership election -- but only if nobody else does. Economics Minister Taro Aso said on Tuesday he was considering his candidacy in response to calls to run by some young members of the LDP.

Among the others considered eligible to become Japan's 11th prime minister in 12 years are former prime minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, who heads the party's largest faction; Junichiro Koizumi, a former health minister; and Hiromu Nonaka, an LDP powerbroker.

Hashimoto appears to have become the front-runner, with Junichiro Koizumi recently appearing to lose some support because of his calls to privatize the postal service.

Nonaka, who was once considered Mori's most likely replacement, belongs to the Hashimoto faction of the LDP.

Makoto Koga, the Liberal Democratic Party secretary-general, proposed the election date after a morning meeting with Mori.

The date still needs to be approved by other party officials and a final decision was scheduled for next Tuesday, said party spokesman Makoto Tsuji.

Mori agreed in a meeting with Koga on Wednesday to resign as prime minister after the new president is selected. The party president is virtually assured of the prime minister's job because of the Liberal Democrats' dominance in the Diet, or Japanese parliament.

A poll released by a major newspaper Thursday indicated Japan's voters would prefer none of the leading contenders.

Unlikely contender

Instead, the politician most said they would like to see lead the nation is Makiko Tanaka, the outspoken daughter of the late Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka. She was supported by nearly 31 percent of those polled; Koizumi was second with almost 18 percent.

Few believe she has the power base within the party to actually stand as a candidate. But Tanaka, 57, has repeatedly been singled out in popularity polls because of her image as a straight shooter.

Ironically, Makiko Tanaka's father came to symbolize backroom power politics before being forced out of office and disgraced in the 1970s in a bribery scandal.

Mori's tenure has been marred by scandals and gaffes. He has repeatedly come under fire for his remarks evoking the nationalism of Japan's wartime leaders.

His public support ratings have plunged below 10 percent, making him the second-most unpopular prime minister Japan has had since World War II.

Economic package

The LDP leadership election comes as the government scurries to finalize a package of economic steps aimed mainly at solving the bad loan problems at the nation's banks and bolstering the flagging economy.

The measures had been expected to be unveiled on Wednesday, but ruling politicians said the government would delay the announcement until Friday. Ruling coalition lawmakers had been keen to ditch Mori to improve their chances in a key Upper House election set for July.

The Associated Press & Reuters contributed to this report.

Party shows Mori the way out
April 4, 2001
Japan's LDP deny election date is set
March 29, 2001
Japan's Mori defends royal snub
March 28, 2001
Japan's Mori stands up Norwegian royals
March 28, 2001
Mori's job remains up for grabs
March 26, 2001

Liberal Democratic Party of Japan

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.