http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090721/ap_on_re_as/as_japan_politics_2
Japan Cabinet approves dissolution of parliament
AP
By JAY ALABASTER, Associated Press Writer Jay Alabaster, Associated Press Writer – 2 hrs 14 mins ago
TOKYO – Japan's Cabinet agreed to dissolve the powerful lower house of parliament Tuesday, the first step toward national elections that could transform the country's political power structure.
Parliament was widely expected to formally disband Tuesday afternoon.
The Liberal Democrats have maintained a majority in the lower house for most of the past 50 years, allowing them to dominate the lawmaking process and select the prime minister and Cabinet members from party ranks.
After a string of losses by the ruling party in recent local and special elections, Prime Minister Taro Aso last week said he would call the national vote for Aug. 30, the first such parliamentary election for the powerful lower house since 2005.
That election is expected to be a tough test of the Liberal Democrats' power, given that several recent polls have indicated broad support for the main opposition, the Democratic Party of Japan.
Fifty-six percent of voters said they wanted the Democrats to take power, with just 23 percent supporting the ruling party, according to a poll published Monday in the Mainichi newspaper.
In a poll by the Asahi newspaper, 49 percent backed a new government led by the Democrats and 22 percent wanted Aso's party to stay in power.
The Democrats favor a more independent stance from the U.S., smaller government and more international peacekeeping missions for Japan's military.
The results of the Mainichi and Asahi polls, taken over the weekend, both showed support for the current Cabinet at just 17 percent, while disapproval stood just below 70 percent.
A poll by the Kyodo News agency published Sunday showed that 36 percent of voters plan to cast their party ballot for the Democrats, with 16 percent to vote for the ruling party. Some 35 percent were still undecided. Under the Japanese system, voters cast a ballot for the party and another for a district representative.
The leader of the party that wins the parliamentary election is almost certain to become prime minister. The Liberal Democrats currently have 303 seats in the powerful 480-seat lower house, and their coalition partner Komeito has 31. The Democratic Party has just 112.
All polls were random telephone surveys taken of eligible voters nationwide. The Mainichi poll had 1,045 respondents, while the Asahi poll had 1,064 and the Kyodo poll had 1,243. None provided a margin of error, but for surveys of that size, they would have a margin of error of about 3 percent.
Japan Cabinet approves dissolution of parliament
AP
By JAY ALABASTER, Associated Press Writer Jay Alabaster, Associated Press Writer – 2 hrs 14 mins ago
TOKYO – Japan's Cabinet agreed to dissolve the powerful lower house of parliament Tuesday, the first step toward national elections that could transform the country's political power structure.
Parliament was widely expected to formally disband Tuesday afternoon.
The Liberal Democrats have maintained a majority in the lower house for most of the past 50 years, allowing them to dominate the lawmaking process and select the prime minister and Cabinet members from party ranks.
After a string of losses by the ruling party in recent local and special elections, Prime Minister Taro Aso last week said he would call the national vote for Aug. 30, the first such parliamentary election for the powerful lower house since 2005.
That election is expected to be a tough test of the Liberal Democrats' power, given that several recent polls have indicated broad support for the main opposition, the Democratic Party of Japan.
Fifty-six percent of voters said they wanted the Democrats to take power, with just 23 percent supporting the ruling party, according to a poll published Monday in the Mainichi newspaper.
In a poll by the Asahi newspaper, 49 percent backed a new government led by the Democrats and 22 percent wanted Aso's party to stay in power.
The Democrats favor a more independent stance from the U.S., smaller government and more international peacekeeping missions for Japan's military.
The results of the Mainichi and Asahi polls, taken over the weekend, both showed support for the current Cabinet at just 17 percent, while disapproval stood just below 70 percent.
A poll by the Kyodo News agency published Sunday showed that 36 percent of voters plan to cast their party ballot for the Democrats, with 16 percent to vote for the ruling party. Some 35 percent were still undecided. Under the Japanese system, voters cast a ballot for the party and another for a district representative.
The leader of the party that wins the parliamentary election is almost certain to become prime minister. The Liberal Democrats currently have 303 seats in the powerful 480-seat lower house, and their coalition partner Komeito has 31. The Democratic Party has just 112.
All polls were random telephone surveys taken of eligible voters nationwide. The Mainichi poll had 1,045 respondents, while the Asahi poll had 1,064 and the Kyodo poll had 1,243. None provided a margin of error, but for surveys of that size, they would have a margin of error of about 3 percent.
