Prime Minister Naoto Kan handily prevailed over an opposition-backed no-confidence motion Thursday, in part because he compromised with foes within his Democratic Party of Japan to step down in the near future after he feels he has accomplished his disaster-response duties.
The latest turn of events, which opposition lawmakers called "a charade," allowed Kan, deeply unpopular over his perceived lack of leadership in the aftermath of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami and ongoing nuclear crisis, to buy time.
With the focus now shifting to when Kan will actually leave and who will replace him, analysts said the DPJ will be forced to work closely and accommodate the opposition in the divided Diet to pass key bills aimed at facilitating reconstruction efforts.