Japan’s unpopular Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has resigned in an effort to break political deadlock in his country. Fukuda’s government has suffered chronic unpopularity after a scandal involving lost pension records and concerns over a stalling economy.

Last week, ministers unveiled a series of tax cuts to ease fears of the world’s second biggest economy going into recession. Despite this, a new poll showed Fukuda’s ratings had fallen to a new low of 29 percent.

Right-leaning former-Foreign Minister Taro Aso has already emerged as a front runner to replace him for the top job. Fukuda’s surprise announcement means he becomes Japan’s second leader to resign abruptly in less than a year.

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