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| Japan poll: PM Abe seeks stable government after win | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Japanese PM Shinzo Abe says his forecast win in Sunday's upper house elections will help him form a stable cabinet, ending political volatility. | |
| Exit polls suggest his ruling coalition will get at least 71 of the 121 seats being contested, NHK broadcaster says. | Exit polls suggest his ruling coalition will get at least 71 of the 121 seats being contested, NHK broadcaster says. |
| This would give Mr Abe control of both houses of parliament for the first time in six years. | This would give Mr Abe control of both houses of parliament for the first time in six years. |
| The prime minister said the result was an endorsement of his more conservative economic and political reforms. | The prime minister said the result was an endorsement of his more conservative economic and political reforms. |
| "We have received overwhelming support from the people for our policies of improving the economy and solid and stable politics," Mr Abe told reporters after Sunday's vote. | "We have received overwhelming support from the people for our policies of improving the economy and solid and stable politics," Mr Abe told reporters after Sunday's vote. |
| 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. |
| The expected result is being seen as a vote of confidence in Mr Abe, says the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Tokyo. | The expected result is being seen as a vote of confidence in Mr Abe, says the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Tokyo. |
| He has the power; the question is whether he has the will too, says our correspondent. | He has the power; the question is whether he has the will too, says our correspondent. |
| Official results are not expected until later on Monday. | Official results are not expected until later on Monday. |
| 'Abenomics' | 'Abenomics' |
| But exit polls suggest Mr Abe's Liberal Democratic Party and its junior partner New Komeito would control 130 seats in the 242-seat upper house. Half the seats were being contested in Sunday's election. | But exit polls suggest Mr Abe's Liberal Democratic Party and its junior partner New Komeito would control 130 seats in the 242-seat upper house. Half the seats were being contested in Sunday's election. |
| The main opposition party, the Democratic Party of Japan, was expected to win 17 seats. | The main opposition party, the Democratic Party of Japan, was expected to win 17 seats. |
| Japan's upper chamber, while not as powerful as the lower house, is able to block legislation introduced by the government. | Japan's upper chamber, while not as powerful as the lower house, is able to block legislation introduced by the government. |
| 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. |
| As first election results began emerging, Mr Abe said many voters believed in his party's economic policies which were having a positive impact. | As first election results began emerging, Mr Abe said many voters believed in his party's economic policies which were having a positive impact. |
| "These policies are contributing to the economy already and further improvement is needed, including wage increases, more consumption, more investments. | "These policies are contributing to the economy already and further improvement is needed, including wage increases, more consumption, more investments. |
| "I want to make a virtuous cycle of improving the employment situation, increasing salaries and bringing about a rise in corporate investment. | "I want to make a virtuous cycle of improving the employment situation, increasing salaries and bringing about a rise in corporate investment. |
| Mr Abe, 58, has relatively strong public support for his proposals for economic reform - the so-called "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 - the so-called "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 - the "arrows" - involved a big injection of cash by the Bank of Japan and a major boost in government spending. | His first two measures - the "arrows" - 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. | Trade barriers need to come down, taxes will need to rise and large parts of the economy will have to be deregulated. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| These include restarting Japan's nuclear reactors - something many in Japan are opposed to. | These include restarting Japan's nuclear reactors - something many in Japan are opposed to. |
| A possible revision of Japan's pacifist constitution, especially a section which prohibits the use of force in international disputes except for self-defence, may also be a priority. | A possible revision of Japan's pacifist constitution, especially a section which prohibits the use of force in international disputes except for self-defence, may also be a priority. |
| But correspondents say pursuing nationalistic policies may cause tension with neighbouring countries. | But correspondents say pursuing nationalistic policies may cause tension with neighbouring countries. |