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Governing Party Appears Headed to Lead Japanese Parliament Governing Party Appears Headed to Lead Japanese Parliament
(about 4 hours later)
TOKYO — Japanese voters appeared to hand a decisive victory on Sunday to the governing Liberal Democratic Party in upper house elections, restoring the once-discredited party to a virtual monopoly on political power for the first time in six years.TOKYO — Japanese voters appeared to hand a decisive victory on Sunday to the governing Liberal Democratic Party in upper house elections, restoring the once-discredited party to a virtual monopoly on political power for the first time in six years.
The party, which had controlled Japan for most of its postwar history until its defeat four years ago, appeared to win back public support with its pledge to rebuild Japan’s national strength at a time when the nation faces a growing challenge from China. The election was widely viewed here as a referendum on the hawkish Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s efforts to revive Japan with a three-prong economic plan, callled Abenomics, that has already succeeded in sparking a tentative recovery. The party, which had controlled Japan for most of its postwar history until its defeat four years ago, appeared to win back public support with its pledge to rebuild Japan’s national strength at a time when the nation faces a growing challenge from China. The election was widely viewed here as a referendum on the hawkish Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s efforts to revive Japan with a three-pronged economic plan, called Abenomics, that has already succeeded in prompting a tentative recovery.
According to early results by Japan’s national broadcaster, N.H.K., the Liberal Democrats secured 63 of the 121 seats being contested, with 14 seats still up for grabs. That almost doubled the number of the contested seats held by the party before the election. Combined with 10 seats won by its coalition partner, a small Buddhist party, the Liberal Democratic Party appeared to gain a majority in the 242-seat chamber. According to early results by Japan’s national broadcaster, NHK, the Liberal Democrats secured 63 of the 121 seats being contested, with 14 seats still up for grabs. That almost doubled the number of contested seats held by the party before the election. Combined with 10 seats won by its coalition partner, a small Buddhist party, the Liberal Democratic Party appeared to gain a majority in the 242-seat chamber.
The results come seven months after the Liberal Democrat-led coalition regained control of the more powerful lower house, which chooses the prime minister. A victory Sunday would put the coalition in control of both houses, ending the so-called twisted parliament in which opposing parties controlled each chamber since 2007. The results come seven months after the Liberal Democrat-led coalition regained control of the more powerful lower house, which chooses the prime minister. A victory on Sunday would put the coalition in control of both houses, ending the so-called twisted Parliament in which opposing parties controlled each chamber since 2007.
With no elections required by law for the next three years, a win would seem to offer Mr. Abe a free hand to pass legislation, and possibly end the paralysis that had hindered Japan’s ability to respond to its two-decade economic decline.With no elections required by law for the next three years, a win would seem to offer Mr. Abe a free hand to pass legislation, and possibly end the paralysis that had hindered Japan’s ability to respond to its two-decade economic decline.
Political analysts said Sunday’s vote was as much a rejection by voters of the opposition as it was an embrace of the resurgent Liberal Democrats. The largest opposition party, the Democratic Party, received 11 seats in the early count, way down from its pre-election holding of 44 of the contested seats. Analysts attributed the defeat to public disgust with the party’s inability to deliver on its promises of change after defeating the Liberal Democrats in 2009.Political analysts said Sunday’s vote was as much a rejection by voters of the opposition as it was an embrace of the resurgent Liberal Democrats. The largest opposition party, the Democratic Party, received 11 seats in the early count, way down from its pre-election holding of 44 of the contested seats. Analysts attributed the defeat to public disgust with the party’s inability to deliver on its promises of change after defeating the Liberal Democrats in 2009.
In a sign of lagging public interest in the election, the government reported that voter turnout was low at 32.6 percent, well below the 39.6 percent in the last upper house election three years ago. Analysts said the small turnout helped the Liberal Democrats, who were better organized.In a sign of lagging public interest in the election, the government reported that voter turnout was low at 32.6 percent, well below the 39.6 percent in the last upper house election three years ago. Analysts said the small turnout helped the Liberal Democrats, who were better organized.
Liberal Democratic leaders said the party drew support from voters seeking leadership for this long-rudderless nation, which Mr. Abe has vowed to provide since taking office in December. They said voters had gone back to the Liberal Democrats because they appeared better able to deliver results than the Democrats, who are also blamed for bungling Japan’s response to the earthquake and nuclear disaster two years ago.Liberal Democratic leaders said the party drew support from voters seeking leadership for this long-rudderless nation, which Mr. Abe has vowed to provide since taking office in December. They said voters had gone back to the Liberal Democrats because they appeared better able to deliver results than the Democrats, who are also blamed for bungling Japan’s response to the earthquake and nuclear disaster two years ago.
“This is a victory of the politics of decisiveness over the politics of indecisiveness,” Masahiko Komura, vice president of the Liberal Democratic Party, told reporters.“This is a victory of the politics of decisiveness over the politics of indecisiveness,” Masahiko Komura, vice president of the Liberal Democratic Party, told reporters.
A new party led by the populist mayor of Osaka, Toru Hashimoto, also fared poorly, winning just six seats in the early count. Support for Mr. Hashimoto, who once seemed a favorite to become a prime minister, fizzled after the mayor appeared to defend Japan’s wartime system of forcing Korean and other women to provide sex to Japanese troops.A new party led by the populist mayor of Osaka, Toru Hashimoto, also fared poorly, winning just six seats in the early count. Support for Mr. Hashimoto, who once seemed a favorite to become a prime minister, fizzled after the mayor appeared to defend Japan’s wartime system of forcing Korean and other women to provide sex to Japanese troops.
Also notable was the weak showing of candidates opposing nuclear power, despite polls that show a majority of Japanese still resist restarting the nation’s nuclear plants, all but one of which were idled after the Fukushima nuclear accident. In the early count, five candidates who had campaigned on an anti-nuclear platform appeared to win seats, N.H.K. said. Also notable was the weak showing of candidates opposing nuclear power, despite polls showing a majority of Japanese still resist restarting the nation’s nuclear plants, all but one of which were idled after the Fukushima nuclear accident. In the early count, five candidates who had campaigned on an anti-nuclear platform appeared to win seats, NHK said.