Tokyo - Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has given up. The 72-year-old leader failed to rebuild confidence in the party which has ruled the nation almost continuously for more than 50 years, leaving behind a political deadlock. Fukuda's resignation announcement on Monday was a deja vu of September last year, when his predecessor Shinzo Abe suddenly called it quits, reminding many of the times years ago when Japanese premiers slid down the posts just as quickly as they went to the top.
His decision threatens to further paralyze the world's second largest economy, already hampered by a tug-of-war between Fukuda's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the opposition Democratic Party of Japan, which controls the upper house of parliament.
Fukuda blamed the opposition for repeatedly blocking political deliberations, including the extension of Japan's refueling support for US-led anti-terrorism operations.
However, he has lacked the political confidence to pass any important legislation in an extraordinary session of parliament, which was rescheduled to open later this month.
Fukuda stumbled over a similar hurdle that drove Abe out of office less than a year ago, leading him to desert politics and leave numerous items of unfinished business.
In a historic election defeat under Abe's leadership, the ruling coalition of LDP and the New Komeito party for the first time lost control of the upper House of Councillors.
Though the ruling coalition still retains a comfortable majority in the more powerful lower house, the political decision-making process almost ground to a standstill.
"I wish I had had a chance to discuss what was best for the country (with DPJ president Ichiro Ozawa)," the outgoing premier said at the news conference Monday night. "I was afraid that Japanese politics may face a great deal of difficulty if I remain (as a leader)."
Ozawa announced earlier Monday he would run again for party leadership, in a bid to push for new elections, which however, remain unlikely.
The DPJ was not the only obstacle for Fukuda. He was experiencing friction with the New Komeito in extending Japan's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean past and in deciding the timing of a general election.
A scandal over pension payment data, a highly unpopular health insurance and a grim economic outlook added to Fukuda's miseries.
Fukuda saddled a non-confidence vote in the opposition-led upper house in April, but saw his support stagnate below 30 per cent. An attempt for a fresh start by a cabinet reshuffle last month and hosting the Group of Eight summit meeting in July did nothing to boost support.
"It is necessary to try to implement measures under a new framework," Fukuda said at his resignation announcement, adding "To proceed an extraordinary Diet session smoothly, someone else may handle it better than I could."
Fukuda's abandonment of his post and campaign promises to regain public confidence in politics and to build a government for consumers, has sparked criticism from all walks of life.
His own party called him irresponsible. The opposition party accused him of abandoning his administration. Japan's dailies said Fukuda had escalated the public's loss of trust in the nation's government and politics.
But many had predicted that Fukuda's administration would not last long. Japan is known to mass produce prime ministers - there have been 31 since 1945 -with leaders regularly stepping down before their terms end. Junichiro Koizumi was one of the few exceptions to serve more than five years as premier.
The resignation therefore caused few disturbances in the world's second largest economy and its stock market. The Tokyo stock market Tuesday moved narrowly with limited gains but stayed calm despite the premier's decision to resign the night before.
Foreign observers regard Fukuda, the son of former prime minister Takeo Fukuda, as a pragmatic premier who did much to improve relations with Japan's Asian neighbours, especially with China.
Though he receives credit for a return to stability in international relations after months of tensions heightened by his predecessor, Fukuda leaves just as much unfinished business to his successor.
LDP General Secretary Taro Aso, was the first to throw his hat in the ring for taking over the party presidency, making him de-facto prime minister.
Aso, grandson of former prime minister Shigeru Yoshida, has held a number of ministerial positions, including foreign minister, and lost against Fukuda in the LDP presidential race last September.
Aso is popular among LDP supporters and especially young Japanese because of his casual speech and love of Japanese pop culture such as manga comics.
But, as a political hawk, the 67-year-old Aso may cause concerns among Asian neighbours, where the dovish Fukuda made efforts to rebuild friendly relations.
Whether the veteran politician can fill the political void and build a solid ground for Japan is to be decided after the LDP's presidential election on September 22.
