Prime Minister Naoto Kan Announces His Resignation
Prime Minister Naoto Kan has tried to stop the passage of a no-confidence motion by preemptively announcing his eventual resignation:
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.”
Kan said that he’ll submit wait for the end of the current post-earthquake crisis. With things going the way they are now, that could be months. Opposition lawmakers and anti-Kan DPJ members may not be satisfied with the move, and could pass the no-confidence motion anyway.
If he is able to cling to office for another week, Kan will become the first post-Koizumi Prime Minister to actually stay in office for more than one year. (Update: The no-confidence motion was voted down. Kan will stick around for a little longer.)
Useful Link: Tobias Harris of Observing Japan has spoken to CNBC about Kan’s situation. Watch the video here.
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