Aug 31 2009
Aso Quits Party Leadership Post
Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso resigned his position at the head of the Liberal Democratic Party Sunday in the wake of an historic electoral defeat. The LDP lost the plurality in Japan’s lower house of parliament for the first time since World War II.
The opposition Democratic Party of Japan earned an outright majority of the seats. The LDP had typically led a coalition government. The DPJ will not need to form a coalition.
Yukio Hatoyama, the DPJ leader, is expected to be named prime minister shortly. The lower house names the prime minister.
Japan is continuing to struggle through the worldwide economic crisis. Citizens clearly blamed elected officials for some of the trouble and wanted a different direction.
