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Prime ministers

Japan's Ruling Party Faces No-Confidence Motion in Parliament

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and New Komeito are planning to jointly submit a no-confidence motion against the cabinet of Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Wednesday evening, following a parliamentary debate among party leaders. This move is a response to Kan's allegedly inadequate handling of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, as well as the subsequent crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. LDP leader Sadakazu Tanigaki intends to urge Kan to step down, criticizing his government's response to the disasters. Meanwhile, Kan met with former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama to seek cooperation in preventing rebel Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) lawmakers from supporting the motion.

Key Takeaways:

  • The LDP and New Komeito plan to jointly submit a no-confidence motion against the Kan cabinet on Wednesday evening.
  • The motion is in response to Kan's handling of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, as well as the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant crisis.
  • LDP leader Tanigaki intends to urge Kan to step down during the parliamentary debate.
  • Kan met with former Prime Minister Hatoyama to seek cooperation in preventing rebel DPJ lawmakers from supporting the motion.
  • The DPJ leadership team is stepping up efforts to persuade party members who oppose Kan's policies not to support the expected no-confidence motion.
  • DPJ executives are studying a major extension of the regular parliamentary session that is slated to end on June 22.
  • Tanigaki and New Komeito leader Natsuo Yamaguchi had talks over the phone on Tuesday and agreed to submit the no-confidence motion on Wednesday.
  • The submission of the motion could be postponed to Thursday or later if the series of procedures at the opposition parties are delayed.

Statistics:

  • 10 days: The time period under a constitutional provision in which a cabinet must resign en masse if the Lower House passes a no-confidence motion.
  • 1 p.m.: The scheduled start time of the Lower House plenary meeting on Thursday.
  • 3 p.m.: The start time of the parliamentary debate on Wednesday.

Sources:

  • Jiji Press, quoting informed sources.

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