Japanese Prime Minister resigns
Updated
Japan's ruling party, the Liberal Democrats, are on the hunt for a new leader after Yasuo Fukuda dramatically resigned.
Presenter: North Asia correspondent Shane Mcleod
Speakers: Political analyst Koichi Nakano, Tokyo's Sophia University.
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MCLEOD: Unlike a year ago, when Japan's then Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, quit because of stress-related ill health, Yasuo Fukuda says he made his decision to go with a clear head and firm intent.
Partly, he said, it was to avoid creating a political vacuum, and with parliament due to resume in less than a fortnight.
But a political vacuum is what Japan appears to have as for the second time in less than a year the ruling party sets about choosing the country's leader, without reference to voters.
Political analyst Koichi Nakano is from Tokyo's Sophia university.
NAKANO: It's a big mess, I think. And that is of course most I think the fundamental level to do with the fact that the Upper House is controlled by the opposition party and the ruling party have been clinging on to a crushing majority that they have in the Lower House, and that lead to basically a gridlock on any of the key issues and they haven't been able to find a way forward.
MCLEOD: Seventy-two-year-old Mr Fukuda says his getting out of the way gives his party the best chance of trying to do that.
But in reality, without a dramatic development in the parliamentary balance, any successor is unlikely to be able to make significant progress.
Instead, it appears to be an attempt to build up the ruling party's fortunes ahead of a now inevitable early election.
The role of the LDP's Coalition partner is also intriguing. The new Komeito Party, with its power base in the Sokka Gakkai religious group, is said to have been dissatisfied with Mr Fukuda's performance, and would prefer a new leader ahead of an early poll.
The man whose name is mentioned most favourably in that regard is the former foreign minister Taro Aso.
Koichi Nakano says Mr Aso is the clear frontrunner, although he may yet prove a liability.
NAKANO: Inside Japan, there are people who even find him entertaining because he's unpredictable and he's prone to making misstatements or speaking his mind, which he probably shouldn't be. But, so that might play out in his favour, in the LDP presidential election. But if indeed he's elected, then even though he's intention would no doubt be to continue a smooth relations with Japan's neighbours, that might, he might be... end up being his own worst enemy.
MCLEOD: Mr Aso has already faced criticism, during his most recent stint as foreign minister, for the use of prisoner of war labourers by his family's company during World War II, when he was just an infant.
But he has assiduously built his domestic profile in the past year, and he's probably Japan's best known politician outside of former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi.
Today Mr Aso has been playing his cards close, although signalled strongly he will be a leadership contender.
Late this afternoon the ruling party announced that the ballot for the leadership will be held on September 22. The political vacuum Mr Fukuda says, he's tried to avoid, will ensure for three more weeks yet.
