Though Mr Hashimoto himself may have little difficulty remaining as party leader, his deputy, Koichi Kato, is itching for a change.

ECONOMIST: Hashimoto��s curious comeback

LDP, led by Koichi Kato (widely viewed as the leading candidate to replace Mr Mori), while not proposing actual spending cuts, are at least opposing new spending plans.

ECONOMIST: Japanese finances

Koichi Kato has therefore retained his post as secretary-general.

ECONOMIST: Crossed fingers

One who tried to do so late last year, a bright reformer called Koichi Kato, proved not bright enough to carry his erstwhile supporters with him, and is now in the political wilderness.

ECONOMIST: Why Japan��s Mori must go

Kato Koichi will quickly blame the loss on popular dissatisfaction with the coalition and try to replace him as prime minister.

CNN: Taking Over

Kato Koichi, 61, had long been seen as a future prime minister.

CNN: Down In Flames

Mori's only real rivals were Foreign Minister Kono Yohei (who once was LDP party president when the party was out of power and so is the only LDP president never to be prime minister) and Kato Koichi, who heads the second-largest Diet faction.

CNN: Taking Over