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FACTBOX-Possible successors to Japan PM Kan

Thu, 9 Jun 2011 05:04 GMT

Source: reuters // Reuters

June 9 (Reuters) - Japanese Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda, an advocate of fiscal discipline and a rise in the sales tax to contain swelling debt, has emerged as a frontrunner to replace Naoto Kan as prime minister, a newspaper said on Thursday. [ID:nL3E7H83MN]

Kan, under fire over his handling of the humanitarian and nuclear crises following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, said last week he would quit without making the timing clear.

Following are possible successors. All are lawmakers of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan.

YOSHIHIKO NODA

Finance Minister Noda, 54, has backed Kan's push to limit new bond sales to cut huge public debt and fiscal reforms, including a proposed increase in the 5 percent sales tax to fund rising social security costs.

Last September he oversaw Japan's first intervention in the currency market in six years to stem rapid yen gains. In March, at Noda's request, the Group of Seven conducted joint intervention following Japan's massive earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster.

He drew fire from the opposition early in March after he said he had received a donation from a firm run by a man indicted for tax evasion. He said he would give the money back.

SEIJI MAEHARA

Maehara, 49, is a defence policy expert who favours tight ties with the United States. Maehara quit as foreign minister in March after criticism for accepting donations from a foreign national. He said he had done so unknowingly but taking political donations from foreign nationals is illegal if done intentionally.

He briefly led the Democratic Party in 2006. His hobbies include taking pictures of steam trains.

KAZUHIRO HARAGUCHI

A former internal affairs minister, Haraguchi, 51, is close to party power broker Ichiro Ozawa, a rival of Kan. He has criticised Kan's call for tax reforms, including a sales tax rise to fund growing social security costs and curb public debt.

In a magazine article earlier this year, he threatened to create a "DPJ-A" group that would put priority on economic growth and stick to costly campaign promises.

BANRI KAIEDA

Kaieda, 62, is trade and energy minister, playing a key role in efforts to stabilise the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant which is still leaking radiation after being struck by the tsunami in March.

He has cautioned against raising the sales tax too soon, concerned about the impact on the economy. He has suggested he wants the Bank of Japan to do more to fight deflation, calling on the central bank to discuss lifting a self-imposed ceiling on its government bond holdings.

YOSHITO SENGOKU

Sengoku, 65, was Kan's No.2 cabinet minister until January, when he was removed after an upper house censure motion over his handling of a territorial dispute with China.

The former lawyer has said that he feels a "sense of crisis" about Japan's public finances. Although a former member of the now defunct Socialist Party, he supports free-market policies.

YUKIO EDANO

Edano, 47, replaced Sengoku as chief cabinet secretary and for weeks was the public face of Japan during the crisis sparked by the March 11 disasters, impressing the public with his calm.

Edano lacks clout within the party but polls show voters want him to play a greater political role.

MICHIHIKO KANO

Agriculture Minister Kano, 69, has led efforts to send aid to northern Japan's farming and fishing industries since the March disaster. He is cool to Japan joining the U.S.-led free trade pact TPP, saying rebuilding domestic industries should be the priority. (Reporting by Chisa Fujioka)