By I can’t say this announcement is too surprising considering how the Prime Minister seemed to be in over his head after the March earthquake and tsunami plus the follow on nuclear crisis, but then again who wouldn’t have been overwhelmed by such disasters?:
Japan’s Prime Minister Naoto Kan signaled he’ll resign once a solution to the nation’s post- earthquake crisis is in sight, in an appeal to ruling party lawmakers to reject a no-confidence vote today.
Today’s motion could attract enough support within his Democratic Party of Japan to pass, requiring Kan either to call new elections or resign within ten days. Rising discontent over his handling of the March earthquake that precipitated the worst nuclear disaster in 25 years has emboldened opposition lawmakers to force the vote.
“I’d like to pass on my responsibility to a younger generation once we reach a certain stage in tackling the disaster and I’ve fulfilled my role,” Kan said in a nationally televised meeting of DPJ lawmakers ahead of today’s vote. “Until then I want to fulfill my responsibility with you. I ask you to unite and reject the motion.”
The possibility of yet another change in government has rattled markets, adding to concerns over the nation’s debt burden and sending bond yields up. Even if Kan survives the vote, the lack of ruling party unity may leave his government paralyzed amid the country’s biggest crisis since World War II. [Business Week]
You can read more over at Japan Probe as well.
She hasn’t seen...
6:01 am on June 2nd, 2011 1
I agree. The Nipponese eat their PM’s. These guys work all their lives to get to the top for a few months and then – wham!- banzai!
Kinda like Korean presidents going to jail or dying. I must admit though, I like the idea of former presidents going to jail. You just know they all did _something_ wrong. The US should adopt this.
Japanese Prime Minister = soon unemployed
3:31 pm on June 2nd, 2011 2
This is all about Japanese PM’s being skilled in “cooperation”, and backroom politicking both of which have nothing to do with any sort of real leadership that shows through disasterous ways once they get to the top.
3:34 pm on June 2nd, 2011 3
#2 I agree with that as well. It somes to be an affliction some of OUR “leaders” have as well.
4:53 pm on June 2nd, 2011 4
@3
I agree with that to a certain point. I think that it may apply to the Nancy Pelossis and John Boehners style politician of the U.S, but at the top weather you disagree with the politics of Bush, Clinton, Bush, Obama I think they all are/were supremely talented leaders who at times get swept up in bad polcies and/or divisive politics. This can not be said for the last several Japanese leaders whom would not have done much in life with nepotism, cronyism, and outright racketeering.
6:02 pm on June 2nd, 2011 5
What Andy Warhol meant to say was that in the future, everyone in Japan will be prime minister for fifteen minutes.