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Fukuda resigns, Aso seen as heir

Japan’s chronically unpopular prime minister suddenly announced his resignation after less than a year in office yesterday, throwing the world’s second-largest economy into political confusion.

Yasuo Fukuda, in a hastily arranged evening news conference, said he was stepping down to avoid a “vacuum” as the deeply troubled government heads into a special session in the politically split parliament.

The 72-year-old leader made the announcement just days after unveiling ¥2 trillion (US$18 billion) in spending to shore up the flagging economy. Growth has stalled amid anemic consumer spending and rising fuel and food prices.

“I felt that we must particularly stress the importance of the economy,” Fukuda said in a nationally televised address. “If it will help even a little bit to make the parliamentary session go smoother, I decided that it might be better for someone other than me to lead.”

Fukuda suffered from persistently low support ratings as he presided over a split parliament. One poll published yesterday showed his support rating at 29 percent, down sharply over the past month.

Fukuda recently installed his most apparent successor, former foreign minister Taro Aso, as secretary-general of the ruling party in a Cabinet shakeup. Aso has kept a low profile during nearly all of Fukuda’s term and could be seen as offering a fresh start for the party.

The resignation prolonged the political uncertainty that has plagued Japan since the popular former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi left two years ago.

Koizumi’s hand-picked successor, Shinzo Abe, lasted only a year in office, resigning in last September for health reasons. Fukuda had been considered a steady elder who would lend stability to the office.

Fukuda, however, was never able to overcome the divisions in parliament, where his ruling Liberal Democratic Party controlled the lower house and the opposition dominated the upper house.

The opposition, led by the Democratic Party of Japan, repeatedly delayed Fukuda’s most closely watched legislative initiatives in parliament.

Looming economic problems have also troubled the government in recent months. The economy shrank sharply in the second quarter, effectively ending the expansion that began under Koizumi.

Fukuda alluded to his lack of popularity. He suffered throughout his term from a dowdy image in a country that had grown accustomed to Koizumi’s flash.

“You may say it’s irresponsible for me to resign at this time. Well, it would be good if parliamentary proceedings went smoothly if I stayed on, but in my case, I also had support ratings, along with various other problems,” Fukuda said.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Henry Chen (陳銘政) said last night that Taiwan-Japan relations would be unaffected by Fukuda’s resignation. Chen thanked Fukuda for his aid in facilitating amicable relations during his term.

MOFA trusts that Japan will not alter its attitude toward Taiwan with its change of prime minister, Chen said, adding that Taiwan would continue to enhance exchanges with Japanese allies and strengthen the two countries’ friendship.

Additional reporting by staff writer
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