Yoshiro Mori Set to Lead Japan, Obuchi Clings to Life

Japan was set to select Yoshiro Mori, secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), as its next prime minister on Wednesday.

The LDP was set to pick Mori as its new president, replacing outgoing prime minister Keizo Obuchi, now in a coma after a stroke. Parliament was certain to approve Mori later in the day.

The Obuchi cabinet resigned en masse on Tuesday, clearing the way for the formation of a new cabinet under Mori.

Domestic media reported that all the other cabinet members, including Finance Minister Kiichi Miyazawa, would be reappointed to the new cabinet.

Mori had already passed the most important test -- winning the approval of party bosses in an intricate backroom political dance carried out since Obuchi collapsed on Sunday.

He has two major factors in his favour -- he is well regarded by the LDP's junior coalition partner New Komeito, and he has won broad support among various LDP party factions.

His popularity is due at least in part to his apparent willingness to continue Obuchi's policies.

"It's natural to work faithfully to fulfil the goals of the previous government," he was quoted by the daily Mainichi Shimbun as saying on Tuesday.

Once in office, Mori will have to tackle a full plate of issues ranging from an erupting volcano on the northern island of Hokkaido to nurturing a fragile economic recovery.

Though a member of the same political elite, Mori in some ways is nearly Obuchi's opposite.

A consummate party insider with skill at factional infighting, Mori lacks foreign policy experience. Known as a nationalist, he once worked for an ultra-conservative newspaper.

Obuchi, on the other hand, served as foreign minister and seemed to have a genuine interest in foreign countries.

Several Asian countries have wondered whether Mori will continue Obuchi's pro-Asia policies, which included ample aid.

Unlike Obuchi, who is also 62 but has suffered for years from a heart condition, Mori appears almost aggressively healthy. An avid sportsman, he has played soccer and rugby on government teams and in 1998 took active part in a rough-and-tumble rugby game with a group of British lawmakers.

His smooth and speedy selection has allowed attention to shift to diplomacy. Russian President Vladimir Putin invited Japan's next leader to Russia later this month and said he would like to visit Japan this autumn, Jiji news agency said.

And U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers struck a familiar note by calling on Japan's new leadership to boost domestic growth, a standard Washington line.

On the domestic front, media speculated that Obuchi's departure could speed up the schedule for an election to the Lower House that must be held by October.

Some said the poll could be held as early as May to enable the LDP to seek a stamp of approval for the new government and take advantage of a sympathy vote.

Mori told reporters that a decision on the timing of the election would take economic developments into account, suggesting he might want to wait until after a Group of Eight summit in Japan in July.



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