Japan’s ruling party scrambles after PM resigns

TOKYO (AP) — A tough-talking former foreign minister emerged Tuesday as the top candidate to replace Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, whose sudden resignation has plunged Japan’s ruling party into a leadership scramble and strengthened opposition demands for nationwide elections.

Fukuda, in office less than a year, shocked the country and much of his ruling Liberal Democratic Party by announcing in a late night news conference Monday he had decided to resign because he was unable to break a stalemate with the opposition that has slowed most of his policy objectives.

Fukuda — also plagued by chronically low public support ratings — was the second Japanese prime minister in a row to resign after less than a year on the job.

The ruling Liberal Democrats huddled to show they were still in control.

The party, which has governed Japan throughout most of the post-World War II era, announced that it will hold elections to replace Fukuda as party president Sept. 22, with campaigning to begin next Wednesday.