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Japan's Aso 'ready' for PM role Japan's Aso 'ready for PM role'
(about 11 hours later)
Taro Aso, secretary general of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, has said he is ready to replace Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda. Taro Aso has emerged as the early front-runner to replace Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, following his shock resignation on Monday.
"I believe that I am qualified to take over Mr Fukuda's agenda," Mr Aso said. Mr Aso, who is secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), said he was "qualified to take over Mr Fukuda's agenda".
On Monday, Mr Fukuda said he was quitting - less than a year in office amid falling popularity. The PM is stepping down after only a year in office, amid plunging support.
Unconfirmed reports say the party would hold a vote on 20 or 22 September to install a new party president who would then become the new prime minister. The LDP will hold a vote on 22 September for a new president, who would then become the prime minister.
Olympic sharpshooter The opposition says parliament should be dissolved and a snap election called.
Mr Aso, 67, who has long been a rival to Mr Fukuda, had been made secretary general of the LDP only last month. Charismatic hawk
This was not the first time he had been given the post - he went from being foreign minister to becoming party secretary general under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in August 2007. Mr Aso, 67, became secretary general of the LDP only last month.
However, following Mr Abe's resignation, he left the post and lost the LDP leadership contest to Mr Fukuda soon afterwards. This would be his fourth attempt to secure the party's top job.
Known for his conservative views, he has advocated a tough line towards North Korea and rejects changing the law to allow women to ascend the throne.
He is also seen as a charismatic figure who is known to love Japanese manga cartoons, was an Olympic sharpshooter, and comes from a family of political blue-bloods.
'Political vacuum'
Mr Fukuda, aged 72, announced his resignation during a news conference at his official residence.
Deadlock prompts resignationDeadlock prompts resignation
The surprise announcement means he is quitting less than a year after he took office, although he did not say when his resignation would take effect. An outspoken conservative, Mr Aso has called for Japan to play a more prominent role on the world stage.
His government has suffered chronic unpopularity. Lost pension records, a controversial healthcare scheme and a sliding economy have added to his woes. He is a charismatic figure known for his love of manga comics, but he is also prone to gaffes and has had to apologise in the past for a number of controversial statements.
Mr Fukuda has also been frustrated by the upper house of parliament, which is controlled by the opposition. Mr Aso is the only lawmaker to have openly expressed his intention to run in the leadership contest so far.
"If we are to prioritise the people's livelihoods, there cannot be a political vacuum from political bargaining, or a lapse in policies," said Mr Fukuda. Other potential contenders could include Yuriko Koike, a former defence minister, Seiko Noda, the consumer affairs minister and Kaoru Yosano, the economics minister.
"I believe there will be an election for the party leader," he said. "The leader will be appointed as the prime minister." Campaigning for the leadership election is set to begin on 10 September.
Last Friday, Mr Fukuda announced a 11.7-trillion-yen ($107bn) economic stimulus package, in a vain attempt to shore up political support. Snap election
Political instability Yasuo Fukuda made his announcement late on Monday night.
He is the second prime minister in a row to step down after less than 12 months in office, and Japanese media denounced his unexpected resignation.
It was "unmistakably cowardly", the Asahi Shimbun said in an editorial. "This only goes to show that Fukuda himself and the LDP do not possess the fundamental strength to effect a breakthrough in the difficult political situation."
Mr Fukuda's administration has been chronically unpopular. Lost pension records, a controversial health insurance scheme and a sliding economy have all contributed to his woes.
But the main problem has been the battle with the upper house. The opposition controls the chamber, which means it is in a position to block legislation.
Last month Mr Fukuda reshuffled his cabinet in an attempt to boost his flagging popularity. He has also recently announced a 11.7-trillion-yen ($107bn) economic stimulus package.
But these measures failed to boost cabinet approval ratings, which had been below 30% for several months.
Japan's next general election must be held no later than September 2009.Japan's next general election must be held no later than September 2009.
Mr Fukuda's cabinet reshuffle last month, in which Mr Aso was promoted, was seen as a last-ditch attempt to shore up Mr Fukuda's government and boost its flagging popularity. But, correspondents say, whoever takes over will face pressure to call an immediate general election.
But it failed to impact low cabinet approval ratings, which had been below 30% for several months. Yukio Hatoyama, of the opposition Democratic Party of Japan, said polls were the only answer.
The BBC's Chris Hogg says that whoever takes over will face pressure to call for an immediate general election. "We should immediately dissolve the parliament and put our trust in the people," he said.
He says the governing party has lost two prime ministers in a row, both abrupt resignations, unexpected and unsettling for the country as a whole.
The LDP has failed to recover popularity, and the economy to recover its dynamism, since the resignation of the popular Junichiro Koizumi in 2006.