Asia-Pacific

Japan PM pushed to set resignation date

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-06-20 17:00

TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan is under pressure to resign next month if budget bills are passed by parliament.

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Kan is being pushed by senior members of his party to step down after the passage of a second extra budget for the current fiscal year, Kyodo News agency and public broadcaster NHK reported Monday.

Passage of the budget is expected in mid-July.

Kyodo and NHK said Kan is expected to announce details of his intentions soon, but NHK said it is not clear if he will agree to step down next month or will try to hold on longer.

Kan is accused of lacking leadership after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the country's northern coastline and left about 23,000 people dead or missing.