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June 2, 2011. Japanese Prime Minister Kan survives no-confidence motion

SOURCE: Altegrity Risk International

Embattled Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan survived a no-confidence motion on June 2nd brought by ministers of parliament (MPs) critical of his government's failures in the handling of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, as well as the accompanying nuclear crisis in Fukushima. In an effort to head off a potential rebellion by senior members of his Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), Kan announced before the motion was debated that he would resign when the crises facing Japan were under control. This intra-party struggle has weakened Kan and the DPJ, although it has given the PM a few more months in power. Kan came to office in June 2010, the fifth Japanese PM in as many years. Former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, who initially voiced support for the no confidence vote, said he would support Kan. The no-confidence vote was submitted by the main opposition party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), their smaller ally the New Komeito party, and the Sunrise Party; the Communist Party is expected to back it. A survey of 700 Japanese adults by a prominent international pollster found that 79% rated Kan's management of the crisis as poor.