Yoshiro Mori, who replaced a comatose Keizo Obuchi as prime minister, inaugurated his Cabinet April 5. The Obuchi Cabinet resigned en masse April 4, after Obuchi suffered a stroke and was hospitalized. All Cabinet members, except Obuchi, retained their posts.
The government and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party will do everything possible to minimize political chaos. However, further turbulence is likely in coming months: The Group of Eight holds a summit in Okinawa in July and the Lower House must be dissolved for a snap election, before the sitting members complete their terms Oct. 19.
Speculation is growing that a general election will be held in May, after the "Golden Week" holidays. Before the present turmoil, there had been widespread expectations that the election would be held immediately after the summit, or immediately before the Lower House members complete their terms.