The results of Sunday's Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly elections have dealt a severe blow to Prime Minister Taro Aso, leader of the ruling coalition composed of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito.
The ruling coalition's poor showing briefly sparked talk in the LDP of replacing Mr. Aso with a new leader. But it is unlikely such a step would improve the party's prospects because it would produce the fourth consecutive LDP leader to take power without a voter mandate. In any case, to thwart his opponents Mr. Aso has decided to dissolve the Lower House next week and to hold snap elections Aug. 30.
Given Sunday's results, the LDP faces an uphill battle. The party lost its top position in the assembly — which it had held since 1969 — to the Democratic Party of Japan, and the LDP-Komeito camp also lost its majority in the assembly. The number of LDP seats has sunk to the record low set in 1965.
Fifty-four out of 58 DPJ candidates won seats, giving the party 20 more seats than its pre-election total. In 38 of the 42 constituents, DPJ candidates became top winners. Conspicuously, the DPJ won in six of the seven single-seat constituencies — up from the two in the previous election.
Although the political winds are blowing in the DPJ's favor, party leader Mr. Yukio Hatoyama must do a better job of explaining irregularities in political donations made to his office.
Voter turnout for the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election was notable at 54.49 percent, up from the 43.99 percent in the previous election. While election issues directly related to Tokyo, such as what to do with the money-losing Shinginko Tokyo Bank, a plan to move the Tsukiji fish market and a plan to abolish three children's hospitals may have raised voter interest, for the most part the high turnout can be attributed to the electorate's concern with the economy, unemployment, the faltering social security system and allocation of budgetary funds. In the upcoming election, each party must present appealing but feasible plans for solving the nation's daunting problems.
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