Staff writer
As his popularity rating continues to decline, the outlook for Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto seems bleak, but Hashimoto may still be in his position as late as next year, according to political experts.
"It is partly because of the absence of an adequate replacement in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (which Hashimoto heads)," said Yasunori Sone, a professor at Keio University. Foreign Minister Keizo Obuchi, former Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiroku Kajiyama and LDP Secretary General Koichi Kato have been mentioned as possible successors to Hashimoto, but so far no one has come out openly against him.