At his back Taro Aso had some disastrous results from Tokyo's metropolitan elections on July 12th, in which control of the capital passed from the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) after 40 years. In front was a growing rebellion within the LDP against his leadership. So the prime minister pressed the nuclear button. This week he declared that he would dissolve the Diet, Japan's parliament, and lead the ruling coalition into a general election on August 30th. Bitter colleagues accuse the prime minister of putting pride above the LDP'S interests. They want a fresh face to contest the election; but even if they get one the party is almost certain to lose its post-war near-monopoly on power.
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