National News Hatoyama quits, LDP takes beating in poll

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Kunio Hatoyama, who resigned June 12 as internal affairs and communications minister, did not rule out the possibility of leaving the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to form a new party.

Hatoyama, one of Prime Minister Taro Aso's closest allies, insisted that Yoshifumi Nishikawa be removed as head of Japan Post Holdings Co., a body set up as a result of postal privatization reform, while reformists and many other lawmakers in the LDP said Nishikawa should press ahead with reforms.

Meanwhile, a Kyodo News poll released June 15 found 38.5 percent of voters voicing support for the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), compared with a record-low 19.8 percent for the LDP. The survey found that only 17.5 percent of the respondents approved of Hatoyama's exit, while 74.8 percent disapproved. As for Nishikawa, 75.5 percent of respondents said he should step down, while 17.2 percent said he should stay on. (Kyodo News)

鳩山総務相辞任、自民支持率は下落

鳩山邦夫氏は6月12日、総務大臣を辞任し、自民党を離党して新党を作る可能性を排除しなかった。また、共同通信の世論調査では自民党への支持率は19.8%と、過去最低となった。

Shukan ST: June 26, 2009

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