NHK: Opposition leaders say voters have lost confidence in DPJ because of flip-flop on consumption tax & promise to remove US base from Okinawa

NHK July 12 report on Upper House election results:

"Opposition leaders comment on results

The president of the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party, Sadakazu Tanigaki, says voters lost confidence in the ruling Democratic Party due to its inconsistency over the consumption tax and the relocation of the US Marines' Futenma air station in Okinawa.

He indicated that the LDP will request an early dissolution of the Lower House for a general election.

Opposition New Komeito leader Natsuo Yamaguchi ruled out the possibility of a tie-up with the governing coalition. He said his party wants to represent voters who disagree with the 2 major parties -- the DPJ and the LDP -- and make policy proposals for them.

Opposition Your Party leader Yoshimi Watanabe said his party's objectives of creating a smaller government and achieving economic growth through regional revitalization are totally different from policies of the DPJ which seeks a larger government and tax increases under bureaucrats' leadership.

Watanabe noted that 3 years ago, the Liberal Democratic Party began to collapse after it lost a majority in the previous Upper House election.

He said now the split within the Democrat Party will become apparent, creating a good chance for realignment of Japanese politics.

Communist Party leader Kazuo Shii said his party will confront the government over a proposed consumption tax increase and the relocation of the Futenma base.

Social Democratic Party leader Mizuho Fukushima suggested it is unlikely her party will return to the coalition unless the government retracts a Japan-US agreement to construct a new base in Okinawa in place of the Futenma airfield.

The President of the Sunrise Party of Japan, Takeo Hiranuma, says the door is open to collaborate with members of the DPJ and the LDP who share some of his party's political objectives.

The leader of the ruling People's New Party, Shizuka Kamei, said his party will continue to implement what the governing coalition has promised to the people.