Koichi Kato failed in his high-profile rebellion last week against the government of Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori. The leading dissident in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party had vowed to unseat Mori by voting for an opposition-sponsored no-confidence motion against the Mori Cabinet. But when faced with threats of expulsion, Kato got cold feet and abstained from the vote, paving the way for the motion's defeat.
The confrontation between the ruling and opposition forces occurred when intra-LDP power struggles came to a head. Victorious in the showdown were the LDP's leadership groups, centering on a faction headed by former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto. The vote contrasted sharply with recent polls, which showed that public disapproval-ratings for the Mori Cabinet exceeded 70 percent.
Kato said he opposed Mori because approval ratings for the Mori Cabinet had plunged to such low levels. While he was correct, he and the opposition forces lost the showdown because their attempt lacked both workable strategies and unity.