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Japanese PM, His Cabinet Resign to Give Way for New Leader
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori and his cabinet resigned en masse Thursday morning, paving the way for reformist Junichiro Koizumi to become the nation's new leader later in the day.
Mori, embattled with one of the lowest approval ratings of any Japanese prime ministers, had stated his intention to quit earlier this month.
Newly elected Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Junichiro Koizumi, who won a stunning victory in the LDP presidential election, is set to be elected Japan's new prime minister in a Diet (parliament) vote Thursday afternoon.
The vote is to begin at the lower house at 1 p.m. (local time), and the upper house will follow at 1:30 p.m. (local time).
The 59-year-old Koizumi is assured of the premiership as the LDP-led coalition holds a majority in the House of Representatives, which has a final say in choosing the premier.
The lineup for Koizumi's cabinet will be announced later Thursday following a news conference by members of the new cabinet and an attestation ceremony at the Imperial Palace.
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