21.   Hashimoto was elected to the top job with help from smaller parties, including the Social Democratic Party and Sakigake.

22.   He was backed by the Socialist Party, which he headed, the dominant Liberal Democratic Party and Sakigake, a smaller party of former LDP politicians.

23.   His ability to rule depends on coalitions with several smaller parties that represent special interests.

24.   If that is the case, the Chart Thai Party will enlist a handful of smaller parties to create a coalition.

25.   If Sato were to stay in office, the governing coalition between the Liberal Democrats and two smaller parties might well collapse.

26.   In addition to his own party and the LDP, he was backed by Sakigake, a smaller party of former LDP politicians.

27.   In addition to his own Socialist Party and the LDP, he was backed by Sakigake, a smaller party of former LDP politicians.

28.   In order to amass a majority in the Israeli parliament, Sharon will still have to strike deals with other, smaller parties before he can take office.

29.   Independent candidates as well as those representing smaller parties and a breakaway faction of the Congress Party will account for the remaining seats.

30.   It could be just a flirtation, an attempt by Barak to play off against each other all the smaller parties negotiating to join him.