TOKYO—Confusion over the timing of Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan's resignation heightened political tensions in the ruling party Friday, deepening a rift within the government and threatening further paralysis of parliamentary discussions.
The squabble within the ruling Democratic Party of Japan risks undermining the party's already contentious policy decision-making. Among the issues under contention are a proposed increase in the consumption tax and an aid package for the operator of the stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear-power plant.
Mr. Kan narrowly avoided a broad-based insurgency in his party Thursday by promising to resign once "certain progress in disaster reconstruction is made."
European Pressphoto Agency
Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan is all smiles in Tokyo on Thursday after surviving a no-confidence motion in the lower house of parliament.
Confronted by the growing possibility that enough DPJ rebels might vote against him with the opposition parties, Mr. Kan worked out a deal that allowed him to remain. In the meantime, he said he wanted to put in place a program of reconstruction for areas devastated by the March 11 quake.
But no sooner were the votes tallied, with a clear 293-152 victory for the prime minister, than the recriminations began.
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