Two out of three voters want Japan’s opposition leader to resign, according to a survey released today. It’s the first survey released since Ichiro Ozawa said Tuesday that he would be staying on as leader of the Democratic Party, despite a close aide having been charged with accepting illegal corporate donations.
The survey also shows support for unpopular Prime Minister Taro Aso rising almost 8 points to 23.7%, but still two thirds of voters are dissatisfied with him.
The Democratic Party still hold a slight lead over the Liberal Democrats, but the lead has shrunk. 34.1% of those polled said they would vote for the main opposition party in the next election, while 30.5% said they would vote for the ruling LDP.
The shrinking of the oppositions’ lead is only going to increase pressure on Ozawa to step down. The uncertain, gridlocked, political backdrop in Japan remains a negative for the JPY. Hopes had been for a resounding Democratic Party victory but the recent scandal has lessened those chances and muddied the political picture even more.
