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'REVOLVING DOOR' PRIME MINISTERS



Yoshiro Mori (April 2000-April 2001) - Mr Mori, a political veteran but a policy novice, was picked by four barons in the then-ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in a backroom deal to replace Keizo Obuchi, who died of a stroke.




Junichiro Koizumi (April 2001-Sept 2006) - Dubbed a maverick for his outspoken ways, Mr Koizumi appealed to the public with calls for reform and won resounding support from rank-and-file party members afraid the LDP was headed for a thrashing in an upper house election.




Shinzo Abe (Sept 2006-Sept 2007) - Mr Abe was initially popular with voters for his fresh image as Japan's first prime minister born after World War Two and his tough stance on North Korea, but his ratings soon crumbled on gaffes and scandals in his cabinet.




Yasuo Fukuda (Sept 2007-Sept 2008) - Mr Fukuda won support from rank-and-file LDP members who sought political stability after Mr Abe, but he struggled to make headway on policies as opposition parties used their majority in the upper house to stall legislation.




Taro Aso (Sept 2008-Sept 2009) - A conservative and a fan of manga comic books, Mr Aso was chosen by the LDP to boost the party's election chances but he too saw his ratings evaporate as policies stalled in parliament and the economy took a hit from the global financial crisis.

[allaboutauto.us]

Jun 4, 2010
Japan PM, cabinet resign



Mr Hatoyama formally resigned along with his cabinet Friday, two days after declaring he would step down, ahead of a vote for his successor as party chief and premier. -- PHOTO: AFP

TOKYO - JAPAN'S Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama formally resigned along with his cabinet Friday, two days after declaring he would step down, ahead of a vote for his successor as party chief and premier. Finance Minister Naoto Kan, a deputy premier, was seen as the front runner to take over as prime minister of the world's second-largest economy, despite a late challenge for the post.

If Friday's leadership vote follows expectations, Kan will take over from Mr Hatoyama, who resigned Wednesday in the wake of a funding scandal and a damaging dispute over a US air base. Mr Kan hopes to succeed Mr Hatoyama as president of the centre-left Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) and then, after a parliamentary vote, as prime minister. -- AFP

[allaboutauto.us]

Jun 4, 2010
Kan elected Japan PM

By Kwan Weng Kin, Japan Correspondent



Mr Kan reacts after winning the Democratic Party of Japan party election. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

TOKYO - JAPAN'S lower house of parliament on Friday voted in former finance minister Naoto Kan as prime minister, replacing Yukio Hatoyama who resigned for mishandling a dispute over a US base. Mr Kan was set to become prime minister of Asia's biggest economy after he won the presidency of the ruling centre-left Democratic Party of Japan earlier on Friday.

Mr Kan, who was also a deputy premier in the previous cabinet, scored 291 out of 420 party lawmakers' valid votes against 129 for the only other candidate, little-known Osaka lower house legislator Shinji Tarutoko. The upper house will vote later, but the result is largely ceremonial because the more powerful lower house can override its decision if needed. -- AFP. AP