68% seek change of government after voting for LDP in 2005+

TOKYO, Aug. 7 Kyodo -
Out of 100 people who voted for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in the
previous 2005 general election, 68 of them now think the government should be
changed in the upcoming election, survey results showed Friday.

The Kyodo News survey of 50 men and 50 women in their 20s to 70s from across
Japan conducted between July 22 and 31 found that many prefer a change while
feeling good about supporting then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's reform
initiatives four years ago.
In seeking a change of administration, they cited reasons such as that they
want the LDP to reflect on what it has done and that they want a new
administration to end the ''amakudari'' practice in which bureaucrats land plum
jobs after retirement.
Those opposed to a change of government attributed their stance to the
inadequacy of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan and their hopes the
LDP will change itself to be led by relatively young members.
Sixty-one said they feel good about voting for the LDP in the 2005 election --
in which the LDP won an overwhelming victory -- because reforms at the time
were up to their expectations and the result, they think, changed the
atmosphere of the political world.
One such respondent pointed out that Koizumi's reforms were spoiled by the
subsequent administrations, alluding to the governments headed by Shinzo Abe,
Yasuo Fukuda and current Prime Minister Taro Aso as leader of the LDP after
Koizumi stepped down in 2006.
Others said they regret having backed the LDP because the situation has turned
to the worse, with the income gap among workers widening and employers adding
more temporary workers, and that pains were forced on the people.
Fifty-two said they support Koizumi's structural reforms, but others said they
are worse off due to such negative effects of the reforms as decreased income
and worries about employment. One woman said her husband lost his job.
Asked what policies they want the administration to be launched after the Aug.
30 election to address, many picked areas closely related to their livelihoods,
such as the economy, the employment, medical services, and the graying of
society.
One called for a return to the career-long employment system that prevailed in
Japan before its decade-long economic slump in the 1990s, citing worries among
young temporary employees about getting married and raising children, alluding
to their generally low income.
Another called for welfare policies that ensure a happy life for people in
their sunset years.
==Kyodo