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Japanese minister urged to stay Japanese minister urged to stay
(10 minutes later)
Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has said he does not want his finance minister, Hirohisa Fujii, to resign.Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has said he does not want his finance minister, Hirohisa Fujii, to resign.
Earlier reports suggested Mr Fujii's resignation had been accepted.Earlier reports suggested Mr Fujii's resignation had been accepted.
Mr Fujii, 77, is an experienced backer of fiscal discipline. It would be a blow to Mr Hatoyama, who took office in September, if he left, analysts say.Mr Fujii, 77, is an experienced backer of fiscal discipline. It would be a blow to Mr Hatoyama, who took office in September, if he left, analysts say.
The prime minister has promised to shift Japan to the left after half a century of conservative dominance by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).The prime minister has promised to shift Japan to the left after half a century of conservative dominance by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
Mr Fujii, who is suffering from high blood pressure, was admitted to hospital last week for tests.Mr Fujii, who is suffering from high blood pressure, was admitted to hospital last week for tests.
He is one of only a few members of the new government with extensive previous experience of administration.He is one of only a few members of the new government with extensive previous experience of administration.
ANALYSIS Roland Buerk, BBC News, Japan
Hirohisa Fujii's resignation offer comes at a very inconvenient moment for Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama.
Parliament convenes the week after next to debate the budget the finance minister devised.
Little wonder Mr Hatoyama is hoping his doctors will give him the all clear and he can be persuaded to stay in the job.
Mr Fujii, 77, is also among the few cabinet ministers with much previous experience of administration.
He has also been a voice for fiscal restraint, using his political clout to face down coalition partners who want more government spending.
He has been seen as a champion of fiscal restraint, resisting calls from the ruling Democratic Party's (DPJ) coalition partners for more spending despite Japan's huge debt, the BBC's Roland Buerk reports from Tokyo.He has been seen as a champion of fiscal restraint, resisting calls from the ruling Democratic Party's (DPJ) coalition partners for more spending despite Japan's huge debt, the BBC's Roland Buerk reports from Tokyo.
The prime minister is already getting a reputation for being indecisive, and is struggling to revive Japan's frail economy and tackle the vast public debt, our correspondent says.The prime minister is already getting a reputation for being indecisive, and is struggling to revive Japan's frail economy and tackle the vast public debt, our correspondent says.
Mr Fujii had told reporters he was exhausted after weeks of wrangling within Japan's governing coalition to finalise the budget.Mr Fujii had told reporters he was exhausted after weeks of wrangling within Japan's governing coalition to finalise the budget.
He was reported to have offered his resignation after a cabinet meeting he had left hospital to attend.He was reported to have offered his resignation after a cabinet meeting he had left hospital to attend.
Some reports said the government had accepted Mr Fujii's resignation.Some reports said the government had accepted Mr Fujii's resignation.
But Mr Hatoyama was quoted on Wednesday as saying that he wanted Mr Fujii to see through his work on the budget. Mr Hatoyama was quoted on Wednesday as saying that he wanted Mr Fujii to see through his work on the budget.
"But it is a question of his health, so we also have to think about the opinions of the doctors," he added."But it is a question of his health, so we also have to think about the opinions of the doctors," he added.
Economic woes
When the DPJ came to power in September, after half a century of conservative dominance, they promised to enlarge the welfare state, assert the power of elected politicians over bureaucrats, and move Japan from what they see as diplomatic subservience to America to become a leading power in an integrated Asia.
But they also started their tenure at a time of deep economic uncertainty.
Japan's debt is already approaching twice the annual economic output, the largest in the developed world.
If Mr Fujii goes, whoever succeeds him will also have to nurse a frail economic recovery and try to end worsening deflation which threatens more years of stagnation.