Seiji Maehara, president of what was once the biggest opposition Democratic Party, announced Friday he will resign to take responsibility for his ¡°lapse in judgment,¡± which caused disarray among the opposition and helped Prime Minister Shinzo Abe¡¯s ruling coalition score a sweeping victory in Sunday¡¯s snap election.
¡°I feel excruciating responsibility for failing to form a united opposition front against the ruling bloc and, as a result, allowing it to maintain a two-thirds super-majority¡± in the Lower House, a contrite Maehara told a party-wide meeting with rank-and-file members of the DP¡¯s Upper House caucus and some independents.
¡°In the world of politics, results mean everything, but I failed to make the right decision . . . I would therefore like to resign as president,¡± Maehara said, before bowing deeply.
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