Sixth prime minister in five years

(CH) Japan's Prime Minister has announced he plans to resign, less than a year after taking up the post.

Prime Minister Naoto Kan had made the adoption of key laws a condition for resignation. These now being fulfilled, politicians are eying up former Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara as a promising successor.

On August 29, the ruling Democratic Pary (DPJ) will elect a new party leader, who will most probably be declared new head of government on the following day because of the majority of the DPJ in the Lower House. When that happens, Japan will see its sixth prime minister in six years.

Kan was criticised for not adequately managing the natural and nuclear disaster. His poll numbers slipped dramatically. But even before the earthquake and tsunami on March 11 many opponents from within the party openly rebelled against Kan.