TOKYO, June 24 (UPI) -- Former Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda is the preferred choice of business leaders as the next prime minister, Asahi Shimbun surveys showed.
The newspaper asked representatives of major companies to select the most suitable candidate to replace outgoing leader Junichiro Koizumi from among Fukuda, Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, Foreign Minister Taro Aso and Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki.
Of respondents for 31 major companies that specified a candidate, 15 preferred Fukuda, while 12 supported Abe.
Although many respondents declined to name the person they hope will succeed Koizumi in September, the results showed Fukuda is more popular among business leaders than Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, who remains the preferred choice among general voters.
Of the 50 respondents from regional business entities who revealed a name, 22 preferred Fukuda, compared to 17 for Abe.
Many of the respondents who backed Fukuda said they want him to improve Japan's Asian diplomacy.
One survey covered 100 major companies between June 1-16, while the other polled 94 regional entities, including financial institutions and chambers of commerce, from June 1-20.
