Japan's prime minister makes gloomy comment, sparks speculation

November 15, 2000
Web posted at: 11:10 AM HKT (0310 GMT)

TOKYO (Reuters) -- A gloomy private remark by Japan's beleaguered prime minister, Yoshiro Mori, has sparked speculation that despite his public vow to stay on, he may be on his way out.

Invited by a business leader to join him at a theatre on Christmas Eve, Mori said: "I hope I will still be in the prime minister's seat by then," domestic media reported on Wednesday.

Mori -- now being challenged by ruling party reformist rival Koichi Kato -- then said he was joking.

And while en route to an Asia-Pacific leaders' summit on Tuesday evening he pledged to stay in his post.

"I want faithfully to carry out my task," said Mori, who got the job in April when his predecessor suffered a fatal stroke.

But the pessimistic quip by Mori, one of Japan's most unpopular premiers in years, brought to media minds similar mutterings by prime ministers who then resigned in short order.

Among those was Morihiro Hosokawa, who led a coalition which briefly booted the long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) out of power in 1993.

Eight months later, Hosokawa -- fed up with a barrage of personal attacks over an alleged scandal, was reported to have jokingly told two lawmakers over drinks that he wanted to quit.

Hosokawa quickly denied the report, but the malaise spread and three days later he resigned.

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