Taro Aso, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's secretary general, indicated Tuesday he will run for the party's presidency amid the disarray following Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's abrupt resignation.
Fukuda suddenly announced Monday night that he will resign. Calling an emergency news conference, he said he came to the conclusion that a new leader would be better able to deal with the divided Diet, in which the ruling coalition has found it difficult to pass its legislative agenda.
Fukuda also said low support rates for his Cabinet were one factor behind his decision to step down.