The U.S. midterm elections

In this election, it is difficult to analyze the political implications on the narrow basis of the number of successful candidates in each party.

Still, Clinton cannot afford to be complacent. The fact that voters chose the status quo is tacit criticism of both Democrats and Republicans for having failed to offer any appealing visions for change.

Even though the momentum for presidential impeachment is waning, the next two years will be difficult for Clinton, both in domestic and foreign policy. The Republicans, who got both of George Bush's sons into the gubernatorial posts in the big states of Texas and Florida, already have their sights set on the next presidential election two years ahead. The Republicans can be expected to be even more confrontational about spurring an economy that has begun to show signs of slowing, about policy in the potentially explosive Middle East, and over security in the Korean Peninsula.

We hope the U.S. Congress will demonstrate stable leadership through constructive debate, rather than using international issues as a political football.

-- The Asahi Shimbun, Tokyo