Japan names right-winger to head govt

Conservative Taro Aso will lead Japan governing party in an attempt to stave off the opposition's challenge in upcoming elections.

However, many analysts believe that the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has dominated Japanese politics, is set for inevitable defeat.

The key opposition Democratic Party of Japan has effectively blocked legislation in the Upper House of the Japanese Diet.

Aso is known as a hawk who has angered many of Japan's Asian neighbors with his forthright statements.

WELT ONLINE

Japanese ruling party names Taro Aso as new leader
guardian.co.uk - 34 minutes ago

Despite his hawkish stance, Aso has said that Japan should not view China 'with hostility'. Photograph: Yoshikazu Tsuno/AFP/Getty Images Japan's ruling party today elected the colourful rightwinger Taro Aso as its leader in a last-ditch attempt to ...

Doubts grow over Japan PM's remedy for economy Reuters
Taro Aso is chosen to be governing party's leader in Japan International Herald Tribune
Washington Post - Bloomberg - New York Times - United Press International
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Japanese PM Yasuo Fukuda resigns

Unpopular Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda resigned today less than a year after replacing Shinzo Abe quit due to ill health.

Opinion polls gave Fukuda less than a 30 percent approval rating, and he was routinely blocked in the Diet, the Japanese legislature, by the upper house-controlling opposition party.

The surprise announcement brought calls for snap elections by the opposition Democratic Party of Japan. Fukuda's Liberal Democratic Party has ruled Japan for almost its entire history following World War II.

Voice of America

Fukuda gives up the unequal struggle
Financial Times, UK - 1 hour ago
Less than a year after Shinzo Abe, the aristocratic nationalist prime minister, quit on the grounds of ill health, Yasuo Fukuda has become the second ...
Japanese PM Yasuo Fukuda resigns guardian.co.uk
Japanese Prime Minister Announces Resignation Voice of America
Japanese Prime Minister in shock resignation after less than a ... Daily Mail

Play Japanese PM resigns CNN via Yahoo! News - Sep 01 9:02 AM

Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda leaves after a press conference at his official residence in Tokyo Monday, Sept. 1, 2008. Fukuda, 72, suddenly announced his resignation after less than a year in office Monday, throwing the world's second-largest economy into political confusion. Fukuda said he was stepping down to avoid a 'political vacuum' as the deeply troubled government heads into a special parliamentary session later in the month. (AP Photo/Toru Takahashi)