For months Mr. Hatoyama Yukio, currently a leader of the New Party Sakigake, and Minister Kan have talked about forming a new party, but it is still just that, so much talk.

CNN: The Communists come back

"We keep hearing about accountability and transparency, " Kan told TIME in May.

CNN: ASIANOW - TIME Asia

Yet before it jettisons Mr Kan the DPJ should be wary of jumping to the wrong conclusions about the vote.

ECONOMIST: Japan's upper-house elections

To fend off colleagues joining an opposition no-confidence vote, Japan's embattled prime minister, Naoto Kan, promised vaguely that he would step down after the crisis brought about by March's earthquake and tsunami had passed.

ECONOMIST: Politics this week

Mr. WATAM KAN: (Through Translator) We tribal people actually are very much concerned about the American drone attacks because they are attacking the civilians and women and children are being killed.

NPR: Pakistan Warily Watches Obama Policies