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Political turmoil in Japan as election date approaches

Asahi’s public opinion survey of major domestic economic issues showed that 50 percent of interviewees oppose the utilization of nuclear power, which has been a hot-button issue since the nuclear meltdowns

Japanese voters frustrated over political turmoil 2012-11-27  ByZHANG YUNBI (China Daily)  Japanese dismay at domestic political turmoil and gloomy economic prospects were two of the top issues in the country’s latest public opinion polls, which outline the landscape leading up to Japan’s election next month.

Experts said the winner of the election will face key economic issues including tax hike bills and a ban on nuclear power. Japanese
politicians are also facing a serious test over their flashy campaign
promises with less than three weeks remaining from the start of the
Dec 16 vote.
After 10 days of reshuffling that started with the lower house’s
dissolution on Nov 16, the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party is
the favorite to win the election.
In addition to a series of defections by its members, the ruling
Democratic Party of Japan was said to be suffering from shrinking
public confidence. Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun said 25 percent
of the Japanese public voiced confidence in the LDP, while the ruling
DPJ received just 10 percent.
During another public opinion poll by Asahi Shimbun newspaper, only 13
percent of the Japanese public voiced support for the ruling DPJ.
After the ruling party’s poor performance and the chaotic shuffling of
the frontrunners for the election, Japanese swing voters remain
undecided, according to poll figures.
Yomiuri said around 53 percent of the people surveyed said they “have
not determined whom to vote for”. In a poll for the last election
three year ago, it was only 39 percent.
Asahi’s public opinion survey of major domestic economic issues showed that 50 percent of interviewees oppose the utilization of nuclear power, which has been a hot-button issue since the nuclear meltdowns
following the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami……
Meanwhile, in comparison with the two traditional parties, the “third
force”, mainly comprised of radical young parties, continued to gain
momentum in the past week, including the Japan Restoration Party, the
highest-profile symbol of the third force.
After finishing a stunning merger with ex-Tokyo governor Shintaro
Ishihara’s Party of Sun more than a week ago, the Japan Restoration
Party has witnessed a surge in support, according to figures released
by leading Japanese newspapers and news agencies.
“The Japan Restoration Party is keen to become ‘the second force’ of
Japanese politics,” said Feng Wei, an expert on Japanese studies at
Fudan University in Shanghai.
http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2012-11/27/content_15960801.htm

November 27, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Japan, politics