First in a series

Staff writer

The Liberal Democratic Party has obviously made many policy mistakes that are responsible for the current economic stagnation and can change nothing if it remains in power, said Tsutomu Hata, secretary general of the Democratic Party of Japan, the largest opposition group.

The DPJ, headed by Naoto Kan, is trying hard to show that it is capable of taking power since its reform in late April when it amalgamated with four opposition parties. In the Upper House elections on July 12, the DPJ will appeal to the public with the campaign motto "your vote can change politics."