The appointment of Mr Kan, formerly state minister for national strategy, and a close ally of Mr Hatoyama, comes just a day after Mr Fujii said he wanted to quit.

• 在藤井裕久表示希望辞职的第二天，前国家战略担当大臣、鸠山由纪夫的亲密盟友菅直人就被任命为财务大臣。