International: Japanese independent voters are on the rise

Japanese Public Distrusts Politics [Commentary] Prime minister's approval rating declines, but No. 1 opposition party gets no boost, By Hisane Masaki (hmasaki) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's administration got off to a good start last autumn with strong public support. In the last extraordinary parliamentary session, which elected him as Japan's new leader, key bills strongly pushed by Abe's ruling coalition were enacted. ...Abe's predecessor Koizumi roared into office in April 2001 with a vow to "destroy the old LDP." His combative style in the fight against intra-party opponents of his reform drive -- whom he labeled "old-guard conservatives" or "resistance forces" -- earned him unusually strong support among Japanese, including the rapidly growing number of independent voters who claim no party allegiance. This in turn provided him with much-needed ammunition to push through reform programs.... (Ohmy News, Korea)