For a man known as a safe but unexciting pair of hands, Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda managed to make a splash this week with his unexpected announcement that he will step down as prime minister, less than a year into the job. On the face of it probably shouldn't come as a surprise. With Fukuda's approval ratings having plunged to the high 20s, a deadlocked Diet, 50 million lost pension records and controversial health insurance reforms, the prospects for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party were not exactly rosy ahead of a lower house election that has to be called by next September at the latest. But having criticized his predecessor as irresponsible for his similarly abrupt departure last year, and after only just having announced an economic stimulus package that included what the ruling coalition hoped would be some vote -winning tax breaks, Fukuda's departure still raised eyebrows.
Fukuda’s Resignation Should be a Wake-Up Call for Japan’s LDP
