Nov 02 (NHK) - The leader of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party Edano Yukio has announced he will step down. The party came out of Sunday's Lower House election with 13 fewer seats.
Edano made the announcement on Tuesday, during a meeting of party executives.
He said, "I've decided that we have to establish a new direction under a new leader, as we prepare for next year's Upper House election and the next election to choose the government."
He is best known for being the voice of the government during the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.
His party fielded 240 candidates in a bid to bring about a change of power. But the election instead ended with the main ruling party keeping a strong majority.
Edano's resignation will take effect after a special Diet session convenes on November 10.
At that point, he says there will be a leadership election.
Source: ANNnewsCH