Abe, Japan’s Cabinet Formally Resign

By MARI YAMAGUCHI

TOKYO – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Cabinet resigned Tuesday, clearing the way for new ruling party leader Yasuo Fukuda to be named by parliament as his successor.

Abe, 53, stunned the nation when he announced Sept. 12 that he wanted to quit, and checked into a hospital the following day for stress-related intestinal ailments. He was quickly criticized for not fully explaining his decision, and for creating a political vacuum.

The outgoing premier told reporters Monday that his ailing health lay behind his surprise decision to resign, though he did not mention his condition at the time of his announcement.

"Prime Minister Abe shook hands with each of the ministers, and we sent him out with applause. It was very moving," outgoing Justice Minister Kunio Hatoyama told reporters.

Following a hastily called ballot, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Sunday selected Fukuda, the 71-year-old son of a prime minister, as its new president. The position ensured he would be elected prime minister during parliament’s scheduled meeting later Tuesday.

Fukuda, a party elder who served as chief Cabinet secretary in 2000-04, has been seen as a symbol of stability after the hapless Abe administration, though some were worried the new premier would be too old-guard.

On Monday, Fukuda tapped the heads of three internal party factions that had supported him for top party posts, immediately triggering criticism from the opposition Democratic Party of Japan that he was rewarding allies with no regard for policy.

Education Minister Bunmei Ibuki, 69, was named the party’s secretary-general; former Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki, 62, the party’s policy chief; and former Trade Minister Toshihiro Nikai, 68, chairman of the party’s General Council.

DPJ secretary-general Yukio Hatoyama called the appointments "shocking" and the result of back room deals, but Fukuda defended the choices as putting the right people in the right jobs.

The new LDP leadership faces daunting challenges. With its reputation in tatters and the upper house of parliament dominated by the opposition following an electoral setback in July, call are growing for snap elections that could endanger the LDP’s grip on the lower house.

Though initially popular, Abe’s approval ratings had sagged to about 30 percent at the end of his scandal-plagued term. Four Cabinet ministers resigned in money-related scandals, and an agriculture minister committed suicide in May.

Fukuda’s first order of business will be pushing the Afghanistan support measure through parliament, where the opposition has vowed to defeat it.

Japanese tankers have been refueling coalition ships in the Indian Ocean since 2001, and the U.S. – Tokyo’s top ally and protecter – has been pushing for an extension of the operation.

Media reports said the LDP wanted to pass the Afghan measure and the national budget early next year before dissolving the lower house.

As prime minister, Fukuda has also said he will aim to improve ties with its Asian neighbors, promising to stay away from a Tokyo war shrine vilified by China and South Korea for its close links to Japan’s past militarism.