The failure of Koichi Kato's revolt against Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori leaves the unpopular leader at the nation's helm -- at least for the moment.
As for Kato, who only days ago was deemed among the most likely successors to Mori, his future could be doomed.
An influential Liberal Democratic Party official said Tuesday morning that Mori must lead the government so that it can smoothly deal with upcoming tasks, including compiling the fiscal 2001 budget in late December and the scheduled reorganization of government ministries and agencies on Jan. 6, 2001.