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Japan poll: PM Abe seeks stable government after win Japan poll: PM Abe seeks stable government after win
(about 2 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. Japanese PM Shinzo Abe says his 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 won at least 76 of the 121 seats contested, broadcaster NHK 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 - a first for a prime minister in six years.
The prime minister said the result was an endorsement of his more conservative economic and political reforms. Mr Abe 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. 'Twisted parliament'
He has the power; the question is whether he has the will too, says our correspondent. Half of the seats in the upper house were being contested in Sunday's election.
Official results are not expected until later on Monday. Official results are not expected until later on Monday, but exit polls suggest Mr Abe's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior partner New Komeito will now control 135 seats in the 242-seat upper house, NHK reports, giving the coalition a comfortable majority.
'Abenomics' The main opposition party, the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), was expected to win 17 seats, in its worst showing in 15 years, NHK said.
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.
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". In recent years opposition parties have had enough combined seats to control the chamber, 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 - Japan has had six in the last six years.
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.
Structural change
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 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. In the long-term, some believe he may be eyeing revision of Japan's pacifist constitution, including a section which prohibits the use of force in international disputes except for self-defence.
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.
Speaking to NHK after his win, Mr Abe said he wanted to "expand and deepen" debate over the constitution, comments echoed by his top government spokesman, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga.
"We have sought to revise the constitution in order to have one of our own. We have finally come to a point where a revision is a realistic option," he said.
"We would definitely want to deepen a discussion."
Poll figures, however, show that the Japanese public remains more interested in economic issues than in the potentially divisive issue of constitutional change.