InsideJapan News Network

Japan's next prime minister is unlikely to last for more than a year in office, a poll by Reuters has suggested.

Currently, the country's finance minister Yoshihiko Noda is expected to be favourite to replace Naoto Kan, who has seen his popularity plummet in the face of the earthquake, tsunami and subsequent nuclear meltdown that have devastated the country this year.

Kan has already made clear his intention to step down following the conclusion of several pieces of legislation, including a bill that will allow the government to borrow more money.

The survey of market participants indicated that Noda is the preferred candidate, but the overwhelming feeling is that he will last no longer than his predecessor, who only came to office in 2010.

"The 54-year-old Noda, who wants to rein in a public debt already twice the size of the $5 trillion (£3 trillion) economy, has said he favours tax hikes to help pay for rebuilding from the massive March tsunami that devastated the country's north-east," the news provider explained.

Since the March crisis, Kan has expressed his wish that the country phases out nuclear power from its future energy mix, although it remains to be seen if this is a viable goal for the country.

Written by Susan Ballion