With Tuesday's Lower House passage of the fiscal 2010 budget securing the way for its enactment by the end of March, the ruling Democratic Party of Japan will now focus on passing as many key policies as it can to bring visible results to voters before the summer Upper House election.
But with the money scandals involving Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and DPJ kingpin Ichiro Ozawa eroding party approval ratings, and the ruling coalition facing disarray over stances on key issues, experts warn that much turbulence lies ahead.
"Diet deliberations will now focus on economic policies, with the issue of money and politics left on the back burner for the time being," said Nihon University political science professor Tomoaki Iwai.