Saying that Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso is an unpopular figure is a bit of an understatement.  The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has dominated Japanese politics for the past half century, but have seen the current economic crisis cripple what was once thought as an unbreakable dominance of the political world, having only a 20% approval rating.  When the Democratic Party defeated the LDP in local Tokyo elections earlier this month, it set off a firestorm within in the LDP, asking for Aso to step down.  A member of Aso's own party going as far to say that, in regards to him continuing to lead the country, would be "almost like a mass suicide."

With such growing pressure, Aso has gotten the approval for an election on August 30 this year.  It's amazing as it was less than a year ago we were congratulating him on being elected to the post.  However, Japan has yet to see a stable term after Junichiro Koizumi finished his term in 2006.  Since then, both previous Prime Ministers have stepped down from their posts, Shinzo Abe in 2007 and Yasuo Fukuda in 2008.  

It's not clear what political turn that the country will take.  Even if a member of the Democratic Party does take the office of Prime Minister, it will only be second time in 54 years that the LDP hasn't held majority power.  Keep in mind, that time was a period less than 6 months.

[Via BBC]