Claiming that Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto is incapable of running the government, Shinshinto introduced a no-confidence motion Thursday to the Diet.

The motion to fire the entire Cabinet, however, quickly failed in a 219-268 vote. By submitting the motion to the House of Representatives late in the morning, the main opposition party effectively suspended other Diet business; a legal stipulation gives priority above all else to no-confidence motions.

While the tactic's primary aim was to tarnish the ruling camp, it also pushed back deliberations on some matters to today -- the final day of the extraordinary session. In an afternoon vote, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its two non-Cabinet allies -- the Social Democratic Party and New Party Sakigake -- rejected the no-confidence motion.

The Democratic Party of Japan, the second largest opposition party, the Japanese Communist Party, the third largest, and the Taiyo Party, a Shinshinto splinter group, supported the motion. Shinshinto submitted the motion by saying the current financial uncertainty and economic slowdown has been caused by the Hashimoto administration's failed policies.

Shinshinto President Ichiro Ozawa claimed during the chamber's plenary session that Hashimoto lacks the ability to fulfill his duty as prime minister and has exposed Japan to economic danger. Shinshinto demanded that Hashimoto step down, saying it has become apparent that the administration's policies of imposing heavy financial burdens on the public have caused the economic slump.

Hashimoto decided late last fiscal year to impose a 9 trillion yen burden on the public. It came in the form of a consumption tax increase from 3 percent to 5 percent, out-of-pocket medical bills that more than doubled and the termination of income and residential tax breaks.

It was the first time Hashimoto faced a no-confidence motion; he took office in January 1996.