By
The Associated Press
TOKYO - Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori departed yesterday for a summit with President Bush amid political turmoil in Japan that has dimmed hopes of a substantial meeting.
Mori is widely expected to step down next month over gaffes and scandals that have sent his popularity plunging to less than 10 percent.
Nevertheless, the agenda for the meeting, scheduled for today in Washington, is a full one.
The worldwide weakness in stocks, the Bush administration's hardline stance on North Korea and the state of bilateral security ties after the submarine accident off Hawaii are all slated to be discussed.
Japan, however, has remained preoccupied with the guessing game surrounding Mori's successor.
Discontent with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's opaque selection process has become so widespread that even the party's grassroots membership is calling for change.
At the LDP's annual convention last week, provincial party leaders demanded a say in choosing the next leader, a break from the traditional method of entrusting the decision to party elders.
The summit in Washington and another one scheduled for Sunday with Russian President Vladimir Putin have so far been noteworthy primarily for their impact on Japan's domestic politics.
Set well in advance, they provided a reason for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to keep Mori in office for another month while a hunt was launched for a replacement.
Mori's political blunders, which include calling Japan a "divine nation" and finishing a round of golf after he heard about the submarine accident off Hawaii, have sent his approval ratings to a near-record low.
At the LDP convention last week, he gave a strong hint he will resign next month by saying that he wanted to push up the date of the LDP's leadership election. Mori's successor as LDP president would also serve as prime minister because of the party's dominant position in Parliament.
