Japanese opposition leader Ichiro Ozawa resigned on Monday, which is expected to boost his party's chances in the upcoming election following a fundraising scandal that had hurt its prospects. The Democratic Party had been in a strong position to win the election and end the long-standing rule of Prime Minister Taro Aso's Liberal Democratic Party, but the scandal has narrowed their lead in polls. Ozawa stated that he decided to step down in order to strengthen party unity and secure a clear victory in the election, emphasizing the need for a change in government. The Democratic Party has promised to decrease bureaucratic influence in decision-making, prioritize the rights of consumers and workers, and adopt a more independent diplomatic stance from the United States. Ozawa's departure is not expected to change the current political positions, but it may prompt the LDP to introduce additional stimulus plans to appeal to voters. A 15 trillion yen spending package is already being discussed in parliament. Financial markets were minimally affected by Ozawa's resignation, with the yen trading slightly lower initially but remaining largely unchanged throughout the day. Aso, who has threatened an early election if the Democrats impede discussion on the budget, stated that Ozawa's resignation will not directly impact the election timing, with speculation pointing towards an August vote. Hidenori Suezawa, chief strategist at Daiwa Securities SMBC, suggested that now that Ozawa is no longer in the picture, Prime Minister Aso may focus on implementing aggressive economic stimulus measures in order to attract voters, rather than immediately dissolving parliament. According to analysts, while replacing Ozawa may enhance the Democrats' prospects in upcoming elections, some of the damage caused by his leadership may not be easily reversed. Independent political commentator Minoru Morita noted that there was widespread dissatisfaction with Ozawa, and his departure is seen as a positive development for the Democrats' future prospects. Ozawa's departure may pave the way for a younger leader to take over, with potential candidates being former party leaders Katsuya Okada, who is known for advocating for stricter climate policies and is considered the frontrunner, and Seiji Maehara, a conservative expert on security policy. Other possible successors include Yukio Hatoyama and Naoto Kan, who are both former deputies of Ozawa. Ozawa, a skilled campaign strategist, has been influential in Japanese politics for nearly twenty years, playing a key role in forming a pro-reform coalition after leaving the LDP. The impact of his resignation on the Democrats' chances will depend on his replacement and how smoothly the transition occurs, as it is seen as a necessary step in addressing the party's image issues. Gerry Curtis, a Columbia University professor and Japanese politics expert, posed the question of who the Democratic Party will choose as their next leader, how they will make this decision, and how the chosen leader will perform. According to a Democratic Party source, the next leader will likely be elected by party lawmakers through a vote, possibly within a week or 10 days. A survey conducted by the Yomiuri newspaper prior to Ozawa's announcement, and published on Monday, showed that the Democrats still held a slight lead over the LDP. However, more than two-thirds of respondents questioned Ozawa's decision to remain in his position. One respondent, Yukihiro Nakagawa, expressed that if Ozawa had stayed, he would have submitted a blank vote. Nakagawa stated that he would like to see the Democrats' promised policies before making a decision, but is currently leaning towards voting for the Democrats. A survey conducted by the Yomiuri newspaper before Ozawa's announcement revealed that 30 percent of respondents would vote for the Democrats in the upcoming election, compared to 27 percent for the LDP. Some analysts believe that Ozawa's resignation may lead to renewed pressure within the LDP to replace the unpopular Aso, while others argue that there is no clear successor and Aso will likely try to maintain his position.