Japan to pick new PM next week

TOKYO: Japan's centre-left ruling party will choose a new leader next Monday August 29 to replace Naoto Kan as party president and therefore as prime minister, a senior party official said.

Kan, Japan's fifth premier in five years, has been expected for weeks to announce his resignation amid stinging criticism over his response to the March 11 quake and tsunami disaster and the Fukushima nuclear crisis.

The election will be held on the condition that two bills -- on bond issuance and renewable energy -- which Kan has championed, pass this week, said Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) secretary general Katsuya Okada. Parliament would most likely confirm the new premier on August 30.

Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda has been seen as the frontrunner to replace Kan, and Trade Minister Banri Kaieda, former transport minister Sumio Mabuchi and others have also thrown their hats into the ring. However, the focus is now on whether former foreign minister Seiji Maehara, the public's favourite according to opinion polls, will join the race. Jiji
Press reported Monday that Maehara was preparing to run.