Japanese prime minister steps down as head of ruling party after election loss

September 16th, 2009 Ex-politician named Australian ambassador to USCANBERRA, Australia — Australia appointed a former leader of the ruling Labor Party on Thursday as its next ambassador to the United States. Kim Beazley, who came close to becoming prime minister in 1998 and has also spent time as defense minister, was seen by many analysts as the best choice to take up the position of working with Australia's most important defense ally.

August 30th, 2009 Ruling party concedes defeat in Japan electionTOKYO — Japan's Prime Minister Taro Aso conceded defeat in elections Sunday as media exit polls indicated the opposition had won by a landslide, sending the conservatives out of power after 54 years of nearly unbroken rule amid widespread economic anxiety and desire for change. "These results are very severe," Aso said in a news conference at party headquarters, conceding his party was headed for a big loss.

August 30th, 2009 Top Japan ruling party officials to quitTOKYO — A top official in Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party says that he and other officials plan to step down from their posts over its apparent crushing defeat in parliamentary elections. LDP Secretary-General Hiroyuki Hosoda said Sunday that he and two other top officials plan to submit their resignations to Prime Minister Taro Aso, who serves as president of the party.

August 23rd, 2009 Japan PM says forecast of election loss prematureTOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso tried Sunday to downplay recent polls predicting heavy losses for his party in parliamentary elections a week away. A poll by Kyodo News agency projected Sunday that the opposition Democratic Party of Japan could win more than 300 of the 480 lower house seats in the Aug.

July 21st, 2009 Japan Cabinet approves dissolution of parliamentTOKYO — Japan's Cabinet agreed to dissolve the powerful lower house of parliament Tuesday, setting the stage for national elections that could transform the country's political power structure. Parliament was widely expected to formally disband Tuesday afternoon, but the two main political parties had already shifted into election mode earlier in the day, holding separate meetings of their lawmakers in Tokyo.

July 21st, 2009 Japan PM dissolves parliament, calls electionsTOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso dissolved the powerful lower house of parliament Tuesday, setting the stage for national elections next month that could transform the country's political power structure. In Japan, the prime minister can decide when to disband parliament and call a general election.

July 21st, 2009 TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso dissolved the House of Representatives Tuesday to clear the way for general elections to be held Aug 30. The move followed a cabinet vote to accept embattled Aso's plans for dissolving the Diet's lower house.

July 15th, 2009 Japanese poll: More voters favor opposition partyTOKYO — A poll published Wednesday by Japan's largest newspaper indicated that Prime Minister Taro Aso's ruling party is headed for big losses in the upcoming national election — the latest sign that a surging opposition could grab control of the country for the first time in more than a decade. The Yomiuri Shimbun's poll showed that 45 percent of respondents think Yukio Hatoyama, the leader of the opposition Democratic Party of Japan, should lead the country, compared to 25 percent for Aso.

July 13th, 2009 Japan PM to call national elections next monthTOKYO — Japan's struggling prime minister called Monday for national elections next month following a crushing defeat for his party in a Tokyo municipal election seen as a barometer of voter sentiment. With the opposition surging in popularity — on the back of economic malaise and several gaffes by the ruling party — it appeared increasingly likely it could take power after 50 years of almost exclusive rule by Prime Minister Taro Aso's Liberal Democratic Party.

July 13th, 2009 Report: Japanese leader to dissolve parliamentTOKYO — Japanese broadcaster NHK reports that Prime Minister Taro Aso has decided to dissolve parliament and call general elections. NHK says parliament will be dissolved next week, with general elections to be held on Aug.

July 13th, 2009 Japan's PM suffers fresh blow in Tokyo electionTOKYO — Japan's embattled prime minister suffered a fresh blow when his ruling party was badly beaten by the opposition in a crucial Tokyo vote that is seen as a bellwether for a coming national election. Prime Minister Taro Aso's Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner lost their majority Sunday in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly, the local parliament for the Japanese capital and most populated prefecture.

July 13th, 2009 Japan opposition parties send no-confidence motionTOKYO — Japan's main opposition party says it submitted a no-confidence motion to parliament against the prime minister and his Cabinet. Democratic Party of Japan spokesman Toshiaki Oikawa says the motion was submitted together with other opposition parties.

July 13th, 2009 TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso Monday agreed with top lawmakers of his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to dissolve the Diet's lower house and call early elections for Aug 30. The decision came after the ruling coalition of the LDP and the New Komeito party lost its majority in the Tokyo metropolitan assembly in an election Sunday and the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan became the strongest party in the chamber.

July 13th, 2009 Japan PM to call vote, faces no-confidence motionTOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso told ruling party leaders Monday he will dissolve parliament and hold general elections next month, following a crushing defeat for his party in Tokyo municipal polls considered a barometer of voter sentiment. The decision came as opposition parties, emboldened by a surge in popularity, submitted a joint no-confidence motion in parliament against the prime minister and his Cabinet.

March 2nd, 2009 LUCKNOW - The Samajwadi Party Sunday won a key Uttar Pradesh by-election after defeating a ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate in a straight contest by a margin of more than 5,000 votes. Samajwadi Party candidate Madhubala Pasi sprung a surprise by defeating Amar Singh Saroj in the election.