Key bills clear Japan's parliament, Kan's exit in sight

Updated: 2011-08-26 13:18

(Xinhua)

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Key bills clear Japan's parliament, Kan's exit in sight

File photo of Naoto Kan, June 28, 2011. Japan's parliament passed on Friday the renewable energy bill and the bond-issuance bill, two key conditions for the current Prime Minister Naoto Kan's resignation. [Photo/Xinhua] 

TOKYO - Japan's parliament passed on Friday the renewable energy bill and the bond-issuance bill, two key conditions for the current Prime Minister Naoto Kan's resignation.

Kan has suggested that he would quit after securing parliamentary passage of the two bills enabling the government to issue deficit-covering bonds in fiscal 2011 and promote the use of renewable energy.

The ruling Democratic Party of Japan is planning to select its next leader, who is likely to become Japan's sixth prime minister in five years.

Japan's finance minister Yoshihiko Noda, industry minister Banri Kaieda are the front runners in the leadership race, while former foreign minister Seiji Maehara has reemerged as another potential candidate to succeed Kan.

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