Naoto Kan, the Japanese Prime Minister, has survived a no-confidence motion.  The challenge was launched by MPs critical of his response to the recent tsunami and nuclear crises.  However, while he has survived this test, he has been left a weakened figure, particularly as the motion was supported by elements within his own party, led by Ichiro Ozawa, who, along with 50 of his supporters, abstained from the vote having earlier threatened to side with the opposition.

Indeed, Kan seems to have conceded that he will leave office.  Before the motion was debated, he announced to his party that he intends to step down after the current crisis is brought under control.  This seems to have satisfied his party, at least for the moment.  He has survived opposition attempts to force him from office in the past.

The main opposition party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) led the attack but was supported by the New Komeito party and the Sunrise Party.  Sadakazu Tanigaki, the leader of the LDP criticised Kan bluntly, stating that “You have no personal virtues or ability to unite your own party members. I’m telling you to quit.”  He also outlined his belief that with Kan’s departure, “there will be many ways for us to unite, to revitalise Japan beyond party lines.”

Kan seemed to acknowledge the necessity of revitalising Japanese politics when he told his own party that “I would like for the younger generation to take over various responsibilities once I fulfil certain roles that I need to, as I work on handling the disaster.”

However, while Kan has survived this motion, comfortably winning by 293 votes to 152, he remains unpopular among the public.  A poll run by the Pew Research Center found that 79% of the 700 Japanese they surveyed rated Kan’s handling of the crisis as “poor”.  This contrasts sharply with the International Atomic Energy Agency’s assessment of the Japanese response, which it believes has been exemplary.

In his attempt to stabilise the situation,Kan faces an uphill battle to agree emergency budgets in a hostile parliament.  He can also expect controversial tax increases to be keenly contested.

Such divisions are particularly unhelpful as Japan faces up to the massive cost of reconstruction which has been estimated by some to cost over US$200 billion.  An unstable political situation is likely to drag down stock prices and complicate reconstruction efforts.