Mr Suga is not in a faction, and doesn't have a strong base, so he faces an uphill battle. His cabinet is like a mosaic of people from different factions, so he can't make bold decisions because he's worried about someone suddenly saying, 'I can no longer support you.'

The statement incorrectly assumes he is capable of making bold decisions.

Please! They're trying to pretend that this is a democracy. PFFT. Nippon Kaigi is the one which can and will decide whether or not he stays in power.

The biggest faction that all should care about is the public, might be too radical an idea for most politicians.

Within a couple of months he has gone from Abe's champion backroom boy, the erudite 'behind-the-scenes' power broker who knows how to get things done around the streets of Kasumgaseki, to a PM facing an uphill battle with ... a cabinet full of people from different factions, worried about someone suddenly saying, 'I can no longer support you...'

What has he done, or not done to upset this 'veteran' LDP lawmaker?

Then, how did he become prime minster, elected by a strong majority of LDP parliament members and members ?

He had his chance but he blew it in a few months.

he has indeed now only one chance and that is bold actions and decisions but that in Japan is not a realistic expectation from anyone. Those bold steps that can save him are to cancel the Olympics and to bring forward the inoculation campaign. Problem is Japan cancelling the games, and not the IOC , opens up Japan for huge potential claims from IOC although the pandemic might deter IOC from claims. Bringing forward the inoculation campaign is just as difficult as Japan is hopelessly behind although I am sure all MP’s and main politicians, Ambassadors and business leaders will get theirs in January latest

The biggest faction that all should care about is the public, might be too radical an idea for most politicians.

Are you kidding? Japan politicians dont need support of the public. Japan election is based on regional “elections” and the public will always support the local nobility...ahem, political families. The public dont decide who gets to be in charge, the political families and the various factions do that. The public have too much fanatical and unwavering support for their local political families for them to matter in policy.

So why is he the leader then? Time to be bold Sugasan. You shouldn’t need factions to push stuff through, the best ideas and decisions should push themselves. Just find them!!

blahblah222Dec. 16  10:45 am JST

Are you kidding? Japan politicians dont need support of the public. Japan election is based on regional “elections” and the public will always support the local nobility...ahem, political families.

In some cases hereditary third or fourth generation parasites like Abe or Aso do indeed win big majorities in elections but they don't actually need to. A plurality is enough to win a single-seat constituency election so a lot of LDP politicians are scraping by on less than 50% with voter turn-out of around 50%-60%. Voters can and do mostly vote for other candidates but as there's usually a bunch of them the opposition vote is split and an LDP man that most people don't actually support gets elected. So yes - who cares what the public think.

Ricky Kaminski13Dec. 16  02:32 pm JST

So why is he the leader then?

Sleazy deals behind closed doors with sleazy, corrupt old men?

Time to be bold Sugasan. You shouldn’t need factions to push stuff through, the best ideas and decisions should push themselves. Just find them!!

He won't.