Voters vent their anger

Voters vented their anger at the failed economic policies of Hashimoto's Cabinet and the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). We feel, therefore, that it is only fitting that the prime minister and the leaders of the LDP should resign.

The LDP has already begun the process of selecting a successor to Hashimoto. A Cabinet would normally be compelled to dissolve the Diet and hold elections for the House of Representatives after such a humiliating setback. But Japan needs to respond immediately to its economic crisis and cannot allow a political vacuum to develop.

After passing emergency economic and financial legislation during the extraordinary Diet session, the new Cabinet must dissolve the Diet and hold early elections in order to win the confidence of the people. The new Cabinet should be content to manage the economic crisis and prepare for the next election.

-- Mainichi Shimbun, Tokyo