The influence of political parties may be declining given the strong showing by unaffiliated candidates in Sunday's nationwide local elections, government leaders admitted Monday.

"Nonaligned voters have increased as they are not satisfied with what political parties offer," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda said. "It's a growing characteristic of gubernatorial elections.

"It may also have been hard for voters to differentiate between the parties' policies."

However, the top government spokesman stressed that the results do not necessarily mean voters are shunning parties at the national level.

Whether voters back parties "depends on the political situation at the time (a national election takes place)," Fukuda said. "We cannot necessarily say that nonaligned voters are predominant just because of the latest elections."

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi also tried to make a distinction between local and national elections, saying voters were interested in specific local issues.

Koizumi said national issues, such as support for the invasion of Iraq and increased premiums under the national health insurance system, were not the focus of the latest polls.

On the re-election of Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara, Koizumi said: "He is strong, more than ever."

Ishihara, once an influential Diet lawmaker of the Liberal Democratic Party, turned his back on national politics and has rejected party backing.

Koizumi brushed aside the question of whether Ishihara's popularity reflects voter dissatisfaction with politics at the national level.

"I think it's simply the high expectations (voters have) of Mr. Ishihara," Koizumi said.

Many victorious candidates, including Ishihara and Shigefumi Matsuzawa, a former Diet member who won the Kanagawa gubernatorial race, have vowed to change Japanese politics from the local level.

Fukuda said he welcomes such moves, pointing out that increasing local autonomy remains "one of the biggest goals of the Koizumi Cabinet."