Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and his Cabinet survived a no-confidence vote Thursday, bringing him one step closer to achieving his goal of doubling the consumption tax.
Noda's Democratic Party of Japan-Kokumin Shinto (People's New Party) ruling bloc prevailed in the vote on the no-confidence motion, which was submitted by six small opposition parties, including Your Party and Kokumin no Seikatsuga Daiichi (People's Life First), which is led by Ichiro Ozawa, who quit the DPJ last month with his allies to oppose the sales tax hike.
The final vote count was 86 in favor of the motion and 246 against.
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