Japanese PM faces pressure to step down

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan faces fresh pressure to quit after his ruling party’s losses in local elections on Sunday, Reuters reported.

Kan is unlikely to step down easily, but the outcome of the polls will make it harder to get opposition cooperation in figuring out how to fund rebuilding from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that caused up to $300 billion in damage, a tough task given a public debt twice the $5 trillion economy.

Such cooperation is vital as Kan faces a divided parliament.

“I don’t think the results of the elections will lead to any quick resolution, but it is true that the opposition parties will feel emboldened to be obstructionist,” said Sophia University professor Koichi Nakano.  Read more... (338 words)

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