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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 2 hours later) | |
Voters in Japan are casting ballots in upper house elections expected to deliver a win for PM Shinzo Abe. | Voters in Japan are casting ballots in upper house elections expected to deliver a win for PM Shinzo Abe. |
Half of the 242 seats in the chamber are being contested. | Half of the 242 seats in the chamber are being contested. |
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. |
Polling stations opened at 07:00 (22:00 GMT Saturday) and will close at 20:00 (11:00 GMT). | Polling stations opened at 07:00 (22:00 GMT Saturday) and will close at 20:00 (11:00 GMT). |
Despite the importance of the election, early turnout was a little down from the last upper house poll in 2010. | Despite the importance of the election, early turnout was a little down from the last upper house poll in 2010. |
Japan's upper chamber, while not as powerful as its lower house, is able to block legislation introduced by the government. | Japan's upper chamber, 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 said ahead of the vote. "We will get that political stability by winning the upper house election." | "We need political stability to carry out policies," Mr Abe said ahead of the vote. "We will get that political stability by winning the upper house election." |
Mr Abe, 58, 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, 58, has relatively strong public support for his proposals for economic reform known as "Abenomics", which seek to revive the economy, stagnant for two decades. |
Since his coalition government came to power, the economy has grown by 4% and the stock market by more than 40%. | Since his coalition government came to power, the economy has grown by 4% and the stock market by more than 40%. |
His first two measures involved a big injection of cash by the Bank of Japan and a major boost in government spending. | His first two measures involved a big injection of cash by the Bank of Japan and a major boost in government spending. |
But he now faces the task of driving through difficult structural changes to the economy. | But he now faces the task of driving through difficult structural changes to the economy. |
Trade barriers need to come down, taxes will need to rise and large parts of the economy will have to be deregulated, the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes reports from Tokyo. | Trade barriers need to come down, taxes will need to rise and large parts of the economy will have to be deregulated, the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes reports from Tokyo. |
One of the decisions he will have to make later this year is whether to raise sales tax next April from 5% to 8% to help reduce Japan's national debt. | One of the decisions he will have to make later this year is whether to raise sales tax next April from 5% to 8% to help reduce Japan's national debt. |
Mr Abe is also considering whether to cut Japan's 36% corporate tax to spur growth and open up the power industry, currently controlled by regional monopolies. | Mr Abe is also considering whether to cut Japan's 36% corporate tax to spur growth and open up the power industry, currently controlled by regional monopolies. |
And his government is keen to join a free trade agreement known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), being negotiated by 11 countries. | And his government is keen to join a free trade agreement known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), being negotiated by 11 countries. |
'Stable government' | 'Stable government' |
"I want them to carry on doing their best as the economy seems to be picking up,'' one voter, Naohisa Hayashi, 35, told the Associated Press. | |
"I want to see a stable government. That's the Liberal Democratic Party," 76-year-old Hiroshi Miyamoto was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying, after voting in the western Tokyo suburb of Hachioji. | "I want to see a stable government. That's the Liberal Democratic Party," 76-year-old Hiroshi Miyamoto was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying, after voting in the western Tokyo suburb of Hachioji. |
Mr Abe is also thought likely to endorse several controversial policies beyond the economy. | Mr Abe is also thought likely to endorse several controversial policies beyond the economy. |
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. |