TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Tomichi Murayama announced his resignation and said he would strive 10 transform his Socialist Party into a non-Socialist political force capable of gaining power in its own.
Mr, Murayama who headed the one and half year old coalition dominated by business backed conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) did not Say when exactly his resignation would be effective.
However, the Diet is now preparing 10 meet in a two-day special session from January 11 to elect Mr. Muryama’s successor who is almost certainly to be Trade Minister and. LDP President Ryutaro Hashimoto, who cancelled his scheduled trip to Washington for trade talks.
Mr. Murayama told a hurriedly called press conference that he had decided to hand over the rein of the coalition government to new leaders and promised to do his best to keep the three-party power sharing arrangement in place.
He declined to name his successor, although he said he knew who it was going to be.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 10, 1996
