Japan voters want PM to go as no-confidence vote looms

[Poll_Blind]

Source: Reuters

TOKYO, May 30 (Reuters) - Japanese voters overwhelmingly want to replace Prime Minister Naoto Kan but about half want him to stay until the worst of the nation's nuclear crisis is over, a survey showed on Monday, as opposition parties prepare to submit a no-confidence motion.

Few expect the no-confidence vote to pass, although a significant number of ruling Democratic Party (DPJ) lawmakers could back it.Equally few, however, expect an end to the political bickering that is preventing Japan from enacting tax system and other reforms needed to cope with its fast-ageing population, rein in ballooning debt and spur economic growth.

"This has nothing to do with policies," said Nihon University professor Tomoaki Iwai of the no-confidence motion. "It has become a game. There's big gap with voters, who think Kan is no good but that now is not the time for such moves."

Kan, his ratings hovering below 30 percent, is struggling to get a radiation crisis at Tokyo Electric Power Co's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant under control, find ways to finance the rebuilding of large areas of the northeast coast after the devastating March 11 earthquake and tsunami, and draft tax and social security reforms to rein in a public debt already twice the size of GDP.

Read more: www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/30/japan-politics-idUSL3E7GU0WE20110530?type=bondsNews

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PB

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Hmm not surprised or shocked

I expected this.

[Art_from_Ark]

6. Japan voters always want to replace their prime minister after a few months

It is a rare prime minister who can hold an approval rating of more than 40% for any length of time.

[DeSwiss]

2. Time to "Kick the Kan." - K&R n/t

[Art_from_Ark]

3. And who are you going to get to replace him?

Someone from a Jiminto-Komeito coalition?

[DeSwiss]

4. Someone who's smart enough not to put their faith in lying-ass TEPCO would do for starters. n/t

[Art_from_Ark]

5. I don't think Kan is placing his faith in TEPCO

He has been pretty pissed off at TEPCO.
会場の外にまで響いた首相の怒声は、蓄積していた東電への不信と初動でしくじった後悔の念を爆発させたものだ。官邸に戻った後も「東電のばか野郎が！」と怒鳴り散らし、職員らを震え上がらせたという。

http://sankei.jp.msn.com/politics/news/110318/plc11031800190002-n2.htm

[defendandprotect]

7. k/r