Japan's opposition Democratic Party leader Renho Murata grimaces during a press conference at her party's headquarters in Tokyo. | Photo Credit: APmore-inThe leader of Japan’s main Opposition party said on Thursday that she was stepping down, citing her failure to regain voter support despite a series of scandals buffeting the ruling party. The announcement by Democratic Party leader Renho comes as her party is spearheading Opposition questioning of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Cabinet over the scandals. Ms. Renho became her party’s first female leader and was considered a possible future Prime Minister, when the Democrats were in power from 2009 to 2012. Since then they have lost significant ground in parliamentary and local elections, including Tokyo city assembly elections earlier this month.

Source: The Hindu July 27, 2017 15:56 UTC