Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori has apparently acknowledged what the media have been saying of late: His days are numbered. But he has left everyone guessing exactly when he will step down. One thing is certain, however: The Liberal Democratic Party will select a new leader in a presidential election later this year. Otherwise, Liberal Democrats must fear that their party will lose power with the least popular prime minister in recent decades.

Basically, however, the prime minister continues to refuse to clearly express his intention to resign, even in talks with party executives, despite mounting pressures for his exit. He may have reasons to be noncommittal, but his silence does a disservice to the Japanese public and foreigners. He should tell the nation as soon as possible that he will step down and, better still, when he will do so.

The LDP has decided to hold a presidential election ahead of schedule, sometime before July's Upper House poll. The eventual winner is everyone's guess, but whoever it is will be the next prime minister, assuming that the LDP-led coalition stays in power. However, saying that he will quit as party chief is not the same as saying that he will quit as prime minister. As the nation's chief executive, Mr. Mori is duty-bound to clarify his intentions to a public clamoring for his resignation.