Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and the ruling Democratic Party of Japan bear primary responsibility for the current paralytic political situation — the virtual stoppage of Diet deliberations after a censure motion against Mr. Noda passed in the opposition-controlled Upper House Wednesday.
The behavior of Liberal Democratic Party leader Sadagazu Tanigaki shows that, like Mr. Noda, he is also preoccupied with pursuing his and his party's political interests, and has contributed to the political stagnation.
To get the LDP and Komeito's cooperation in raising the consumption tax rate in two stages from April 2014 and October 2015, Mr. Noda promised Mr. Tanigaki and Komeito leader Natsuo Yamaguchi that he would dissolve the Lower House in the near future. But he appears to have no intention of keeping his word.