This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-36757872
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Japan's Abe hoping for boost in parliamentary election | Japan's Abe hoping for boost in parliamentary election |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Japan is voting in a parliamentary election that has half of the seats in the upper house of parliament up for grabs. | Japan is voting in a parliamentary election that has half of the seats in the upper house of parliament up for grabs. |
| Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is hoping for backing for his economic policies, | Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is hoping for backing for his economic policies, |
| If he can achieve a two-thirds majority in the upper house, to match that in the lower house, he could hold a referendum on constitutional change. | If he can achieve a two-thirds majority in the upper house, to match that in the lower house, he could hold a referendum on constitutional change. |
| Polling stations close at 20:00 local time (11:00 GMT) with results expected shortly after. | Polling stations close at 20:00 local time (11:00 GMT) with results expected shortly after. |
| Mr Abe's ruling Liberal Democratic Party currently has 116 seats in the 242-strong upper house and can also count on Komeito's 20 seats. | Mr Abe's ruling Liberal Democratic Party currently has 116 seats in the 242-strong upper house and can also count on Komeito's 20 seats. |
| What is Abenomics? | |
| The BBC's Steve Evans in Tokyo says Mr Abe has fought his campaign on his economic record, but the sub-text of the election has been the ability to change the constitution. | The BBC's Steve Evans in Tokyo says Mr Abe has fought his campaign on his economic record, but the sub-text of the election has been the ability to change the constitution. |
| Mr Abe is thought to want to change Article 9, the so-called pacifism clause which forbids Japan from fighting wars abroad. | Mr Abe is thought to want to change Article 9, the so-called pacifism clause which forbids Japan from fighting wars abroad. |
| Some in the country view as unfair the constraint on Japan which was imposed by the US as WW2 victors 70 years ago, our correspondent says, and the rise of China has reinforced the view on the right that the clause should go. | Some in the country view as unfair the constraint on Japan which was imposed by the US as WW2 victors 70 years ago, our correspondent says, and the rise of China has reinforced the view on the right that the clause should go. |
| The opposition has asked voters to reject any adoption of a more assertive military role. | The opposition has asked voters to reject any adoption of a more assertive military role. |
| Mr Abe has based his election campaign on his economic policies, although he admits himself that his Abenomics, aimed at ending debilitating deflation, are only "half done". | Mr Abe has based his election campaign on his economic policies, although he admits himself that his Abenomics, aimed at ending debilitating deflation, are only "half done". |
| This is the first nationwide election since the voting age was lowered from 20 to 18. | This is the first nationwide election since the voting age was lowered from 20 to 18. |