A political drama is unfolding over the fate of Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori's administration, and it is anybody's guess how it will end.
The opposition forces are threatening to introduce a no-confidence motion against the Mori Cabinet before the current extraordinary Diet session closes Dec. 1. If a no-confidence motion is introduced, it is uncertain whether the Diet will approve or reject it. To avoid chaos, Mori might step down before the Diet votes on such a motion. Should Mori resign, the question is who will replace him. Intense maneuvering continues between the ruling coalition and the opposition forces and within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
The drama started with comments made by former LDP Secretary General Kochi Kato Nov. 7. The LDP dissident leader, increasingly critical of Mori in recent days, effectively called for his resignation by threatening to support a joint no-confidence motion that the four opposition parties are moving to introduce. An LDP faction led by fellow dissident leader Taku Yamasaki gave full support to Kato, although a few members called for moderation.