His top priority is keeping the DPJ in power and avoiding a forced general election, whether by decision of Noda or because of a vote of no confidence in a minority cabinet.

FORBES: Public Support for Noda Surges with Ozawa Defection

Further, if the full complement of DPJ Diet men who voted no were to leave the party, Noda would thereby lose a majority in parliament, exposing him to the very high risk that his main enter-party rival, Tanigaki Sadakazu, leader of the LDP, will force a vote of confidence in the (now) minority cabinet, in order to force a new general election, from which the LDP might hope to regain power.

FORBES: For PM Noda: A Week of Political Drama and the Challenge Ahead

There has also been opposition to some of the other cuts proposed by the council's cabinet, a minority administration controlled by the Shires Group.

BBC: Powys council cuts: Councillors vote to cut dozens of jobs