The poor showing of Japan's ruling party in recent elections could hamper progress in closing Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. Although the U.S. and Japan in May reaffirmed a 2006 plan to close Futenma and move air operations to a new location, Prime Minister Naoto Kan and his Democratic Party of Japan may be too weak to act on the controversial move. Jeffrey Kingston of Temple University, Japan Campus, doubted there will be much progress on the Futenma issue. "Kan agreed to go forward with the 2006 plan, but will the Okinawans let him? Anger is high there," Kingston said. "This issue is not going to die."