| 1 | Mr Kennedy, the most prominent sceptic about the power-sharing agreement, was said to have informally discussed his worries with opposition whips. | |
| 2 | For its part, the opposition-controlled legislature has performed its role by vetting and passing these budgets, giving the executive branch most of what it requested. | |
| 3 | Mr Noda will have to contend not just with opposition from rival parties but also with a split on the issue inside his Democratic Party of Japan. | |
| 4 | Observers now expect the pro-independence opposition to try to obstruct the deal in the legislature, where the review procedures for ECFA are not yet clear. |