Japanese Prime Minister resignation could provide workable budget

A SENIOR Japanese ruling party politician suggested yesterday that Prime Minister Naoto Kan's resignation was an option in order to provide the country with a workable budget, adding pressure on the unpopular leader as he struggles with a divided parliament.

Kan whose support ratings have sunk to about 20 per cent, is already facing pressure from inside and outside his Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) either to quit or call a snap election to break a political deadlock that is keeping Japan from dealing with pressing problems including a massive public debt and an economic slump.