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| Japan election: Abe set to win key upper house vote | Japan election: Abe set to win key upper house vote |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Polls have opened in Japan for upper house elections expected to deliver a win for PM Shinzo Abe. | |
| Half of the 242 seats in the chamber are up for grabs. | Half of the 242 seats in the chamber are up for grabs. |
| Polls show Mr Abe's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its allies could secure a majority, meaning a ruling party would control both houses of parliament for the first time in six years. | Polls show Mr Abe's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its allies could secure a majority, meaning a ruling party would control both houses of parliament for the first time in six years. |
| The deadlock in parliament has been seen as a key factor in Japan's recent "revolving door" of prime ministers. | The deadlock in parliament has been seen as a key factor in Japan's recent "revolving door" of prime ministers. |
| Japan's upper house, while not as powerful as its lower house, is able to block legislation introduced by the government. | Japan's upper house, while not as powerful as its lower house, is able to block legislation introduced by the government. |
| No single party has a majority, although the opposition Democratic Party of Japan has the highest number of seats. | No single party has a majority, although the opposition Democratic Party of Japan has the highest number of seats. |
| Opposition parties have had enough combined seats to control the upper chamber in recent years, leading to what has become known as a "twisted parliament". | Opposition parties have had enough combined seats to control the upper chamber in recent years, leading to what has become known as a "twisted parliament". |
| This has resulted in factionalism and multiple changes of prime minister. | This has resulted in factionalism and multiple changes of prime minister. |
| "We need political stability to carry out policies," Mr Abe told reporters on Friday. "We will get that political stability by winning the upper house election." | "We need political stability to carry out policies," Mr Abe told reporters on Friday. "We will get that political stability by winning the upper house election." |
| Mr Abe has relatively strong public support for his proposals for economic reform known as "Abenomics", which seek to revive the economy, stagnant for two decades. | Mr Abe has relatively strong public support for his proposals for economic reform known as "Abenomics", which seek to revive the economy, stagnant for two decades. |
| But other policy changes that he is seen as likely to endorse may prove to be controversial. | But other policy changes that he is seen as likely to endorse may prove to be controversial. |
| One is restarting Japan's nuclear reactors - something many in Japan are opposed to. | One is restarting Japan's nuclear reactors - something many in Japan are opposed to. |
| Another are nationalistic policies that may cause tension with neighbouring countries. | Another are nationalistic policies that may cause tension with neighbouring countries. |
| This includes the possible revision of Japan's pacifist constitution, especially a section which prohibits the use of force in international disputes except for self-defence. | This includes the possible revision of Japan's pacifist constitution, especially a section which prohibits the use of force in international disputes except for self-defence. |