A grand stitch-up or an election?
The prime minister’s opponents want a grand coalition. That’s a terrible idea
WHEN Naoto Kan moved into the prime minister's office a year ago, his wife, Nobuko, joked that she had packed only their summer clothes, fearing he would not survive for long. In fact, he has outlasted his four predecessors and, since March 11th, steered Japan through its worst disaster since the second world war. But his days are numbered. Plotters are seeking to replace his government with a “grand coalition”.
This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline "A grand stitch-up or an election?"
From the June 11th 2011 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the editionMore from Leaders
Why South Africans are fed up after 30 years of democracy
After a bright start the ANC has proved incapable of governing for the whole country
How disinformation works—and how to counter it
More co-ordination is needed, and better access to data
America’s reckless borrowing is a danger to its economy—and the world’s
Without good luck or a painful adjustment, the only way out will be to let inflation rip