A sense of frustration prevails as the marathon Diet session nears its end. Since it convened in January, the scandal-racked legislature has achieved very little, and the political situation has become increasingly unstable.
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's popularity rating, which surpassed 80 percent at the outset of the session, is now ebbing at a low of about 40 percent. There is speculation that he may not stay in power for long after August.
Some say, however, that public approval ratings of around 40 percent are still considerably higher than those registered in the waning days of previous administrations. Others say there is no powerful candidate to succeed Koizumi -- an indication that Japan's political world suffers a talent shortage.