Japan's PM to Resign After Disaster Recovery

Asia & Pacific


Published June 01, 2011

| NewsCore



Japan's embattled Prime Minister Naoto Kan said Thursday he would resign his post after "a certain degree" of progress is made in rebuilding the country following the devastating earthquake and tsunami of March, The Japan Times reported.

His offer to quit, made ahead of lawmakers voting on a no-confidence motion against Kan, was presented to members of his Democratic Party of Japan, according to Kyodo News Agency.

"Once I have accomplished my role, I am ready to pass on various responsibilities to the younger generation," Kan said, according to Dow Jones Newswires.

Kan -- Japan's fifth PM in as many years -- has been under increasing criticism for his government's handling of the March 11 horror, which left more than 14,700 dead, almost 11,000 unaccounted for and led to an ongoing nuclear crisis after Fukushima Daiichi atomic plant was wrecked in the disaster.

Three opposition parties submitted a no-confidence motion against Kan's government in the lower house Wednesday, claiming that Kan lacks the ability to lead reconstruction efforts and to resolve the situation resulting from the partial meltdown at Fukushima -- the world's worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl 25 years ago.

Kan's Democratic Party of Japan has enough votes to defeat the motion, but his support within the party was waning in line with opinion polls, MarketWatch reported.

The head of a junior partner in the ruling coalition said Thursday he asked Kan to step down after taking "appropriate measures" to deal with the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power-plant crisis and post-quake reconstruction steps.

Shizuka Kamei, head of the People's New Party and a former cabinet minister, told reporters of his request after meeting Kan, Dow Jones Newswires reported. According to local media, Kan told Kamei he would "bear in mind" the request.

Kamei didn't give any indication whether he would vote for a no-confidence motion against the premier, scheduled to take place in the lower house of parliament later Thursday.

If the motion passes, the prime minister will have to dissolve the lower house and hold a general election, or resign along with his entire cabinet within 10 days of its approval, as stipulated by the constitution.

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