Critics say this leaves the window open to push the Maoist party, which won 40 percent of the seats in last year's election, out of the picture - paving the way for any number of smaller parties to bid for the prime minister seat.

VOA: standard.2009.05.10

This is surely his last bid for public office.

ECONOMIST: France

Is this Japan's last bid to stay on top?

ECONOMIST: South Korea may soon be richer than Japan

He was trying to play both sides against the other in a last desperate bid to maintain some kind of relevance.

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