With Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori facing mounting pressure to step down, speculation swirled Tuesday over who will succeed him.

But Cabinet members whose names have been floated as candidates either said it was too early to discuss the question or that they do not believe themselves suitable for the job.

"We are not in a situation in which we should discuss such a topic," said Ryutaro Hashimoto, state minister in charge of administrative reform and a former prime minister. "We want to put into effect the (fiscal 2001) budget by the end of the current fiscal year. We want to do our best so there will be no negative impact on the people's livelihood."