Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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July 21, 2009

Japan's Cabinet Dissolves Parliament
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=257A8FB:A6F02AD83191E16068E1C6E7CB5AB55BF47489ACC27D21EE&
 
Move in preparation for a general election, expected on August 30 
Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, in Tokyo Japanese Prime Minister Taro
Aso dissolved parliament's lower house on Tuesday and called for
national elections on August 30

In televised remarks, Mr. Aso apologized for his failings and admitted
that his party's internal turmoil had contributed to recent local
election losses. Recent opinion polls indicate Mr. Aso's Liberal
Democratic Party is headed for defeat in the upcoming election. One poll
found 23 percent of respondents favoring the LDP. Another poll found
only 14.8 percent supporting the ruling party. Mr. Aso took office last
September. He has suffered low approval ratings for the way he handled
the economic crisis and for various controversial statements. An LDP
loss in the general election would interrupt the party's half-century of
dominance in Japanese politics.


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