Japanese Prime Minister Fukuda to resign (Roundup)

Sep 1, 2008, 15:35 GMT

Tokyo - Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda announced Monday night that he was stepping down after less than a year in office in the face of declining popular support for his government.

'I made the decision (to resign) as I thought about how Japan's politics should be run,' the 72-year-old told a news conference at the prime minister's office Monday night.

'I was afraid that Japanese politics may face a great deal of difficulty if I remain (as a leader),' Fukuda added, implying that he might not have been able to exercise strong enough leadership in an extraordinary Diet, or parliament, due to begin on September 12.

The parliament was to discuss pressing economic issues, consumer- related policies and Japan's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean to assist anti-terrorism operations and consumer policy.

Fukuda succeeded Shinzo Abe on September 26 last year as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and prime minister.

Under Abe's leadership, the ruling coalition of LDP and New Komeito lost control of the upper house, Japan's House of Councillors, in a historic election defeat. The coalition still holds a majority in the lower house, or House of Representatives.

Fukuda said the major opposition Democratic Party of Japan had often blocked deliberations and it took too long to make any political decisions in the opposition-led upper house.

'I wish we had had a chance to discuss what was best for the country,' the outgoing premier said at the news conference.

Unlike Abe, who suddenly announced his resignation due to failing health, Fukuda denied he has any serious health problems but said someone else may be able to do a better job than he could.

'It is necessary to try to implement measures under a new framework ... I thought now is the best time (to resign) to avoid a political vacuum,' Fukuda said.

Fukuda's decision came at a time when his cabinet has suffered a low approval rate, which has stagnated at below 30 per cent.

His popularity failed to recover even after a cabinet reshuffle last month and his hosting of the Group of Eight summit in the northern city of Toyako in July.

The premier said he had instructed LDP Secretary General Taro Aso to prepare for a party election to pick his successor as LDP leader. The date of the party election was not yet announced.

After the news of Fukuda's resignation spread Monday night, citizens criticized his sudden announcement.

A businessman in Hiroshima was quoted by NHK broadcasting corporation as saying the prime minister's decision was 'irresponsible.'

'I wonder if he could even list one thing he has accomplished,' the middle-aged man said.

Another businessman in Tokyo was not too disappointed, saying he had not expected Fukuda to last long as the nation's leader.

'I think it turned out the way it should,' he was quoted as saying on the evening television news.