Japan's Ruling Coalition Stays in Power (Rival Demo Party Makes Big Gains)

[Khephra]

TOKYO -- Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's ruling coalition appeared to have held its majority in the upper house of Parliament in national elections Sunday, but the rival Democratic Party made big gains, Japanese media said.

National broadcaster NHK, citing samples from polling stations, predicted that the ruling coalition would win at least 43 seats, ensuring a majority in the upper house. The opposition Democrats, however, were expected to make significant gains, possibly winning more seats than Koizumi's Liberal Democratic Party.

"There's no doubt we're in a difficult situation," said Fumio Kyuma, LDP deputy secretary-general.

Half of the chamber's 242 seats were contested. Before the vote, the Liberal Democrats held 115 seats in the upper house and controlled a majority of seats together with coalition partner Komeito's 23 seats. The centrist Democrats, the top opposition party, had 70.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-japan-elections,0,6217274.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines

[Zech Marquis]

1. I'm glad you fund an english article

I wasn't sure if linkng to the Yomuri headlines would have ben good, as it's only in Japanese at the moment :evilgrin:
It looks like the Jimintou lost 51 seats today--still inchragr, but NOT what they wanted..so Koizumi could be in some serious, serious trouble from angry Jimintou members...

[Art_from_Ark]

2. Lots of misconceptions to clear up

First of all, Koizumi's party would have stayed in power regardless of the results of the current election, because it is, for all practical purposes, nothing but window dressing. The Upper House has almost no power in legislative activities, sort of like an elected House of Lords.

The ruling LDP did not lose 51 seats in this election-- there were only 121 up for grabs. The 51 figure is what the LDP started out with-- and so far, they have won 37 seats, with 25 left to be decided. So, they only have to win 14 of the remaining 25 undecided seats to break even.

The big loser in this election seems to be the Japan Communist Party, which started out with 15 seats but has only retained 2 so far.

Currently, the ruling LDP has 37 seats, and its right-wing coalition partner, the Komeito, has 8. On the left, the Democratic Party of Japan has so far won 44 seats (6 more than its previous total), and the left splinter parties have won 3 seats between them. Four seats have so far been won by independents (including, perhaps, former Foreign Minister Masako Tanaka).

[Art_from_Ark]

4. Update

Currently (11:00 p.m. Japan time), the left and right parties are in a dead heat, with 47 seats on each side. There are also 4 independents who have won seats.

[psychopomp]

6. Thanks for clearing that up, Ark

I did not understand the stories in the U.S. press about Koizumi being tested by this election--there seemed to be next to no impetus to change the status quo.

Koizumi's political currency looked much less secure after the NK trip, when so many people were p.o.'d about him offending national pride by personally trekking to make the appeal for release of the abductees. That situation stabilized a bit and the public seemed to forget about it and moved on to the princess' troubles, etc.

[Art_from_Ark]

8. "Moved on to the princess' troubles", etc.

Of course, the local media here (Kanto area) were billing the election as a sort of referendum about Iraq and the problems with the public pension system. However,
I can't say that I was all that interested in this election myself. First of all, as I said earlier, it's really mostly window dressing.

Another problem, though, is the way it's set up, which is really funky. In some districts, there can be 2, 3 or even 4 winners in a field of 5 or 6 candidates (almost guaranteeing that the LDP will walk away with one or two seats). In other districts, there is only one winner. In some districts, voters choose a party rather than a person, with the rather unpalatable result that they can sometimes unwittingly end up with a "Senator" like Jesse Ventura or Ahnuld Gropenator.

So, this election is essentially bull-cheney.

[psychopomp]

9. With those problems

one could say that the polling system in Japan in general has some serious defects. The inconsistencies make the democratic process arcane for all but the most avid pundits, which counts me out.

Most people I have talked to vote their party every time anyway. And that is usually the same party as their parents. Have you had similar conversations?

[Art_from_Ark]

10. I live in a relatively "free thinking" part of the country

and most of the people who discuss politics with me tend to say they vote what they feel. Surprisingly, the Komeito seems to be pretty strong here, as is the LDP, but a lot of that might have to do with the funky way the election districts are set up.

[Zynx]

3. I'm glad the LDP is finally losing power. They are corrupt beyond belief.

[Art_from_Ark]

5. They're not losing power

Read my post #2

[Zynx]

11. I meant that their political power has been diminished.

I didn't mean that they have surrendered power.

[Art_from_Ark]

12. Their power is not diminished

It looks like they're going to retain their original 51 seats (they now have 45 seats, with 13 to be decided). The only party that is really taking a beating in this election is the Communist Party.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

13. Too bad

I've always had a soft spot in my heart for the Japanese variety of "warm and fuzzy" Communists, not to mention the fact that, unless there have been new developments, the Communists are the only party never to have had a corruption scandal.

I should think they'd be perfect for a protest vote.

[Art_from_Ark]

14. The problem with a Communist Party protest vote

is that it takes away votes from the Democratic Party, as it appears to have in several of yesterday's races. In the present election, the Komeito stayed out of a lot of races where thay could have taken away votes from the LDP, while the DPJ almost always had competition from the left splinter parties which, when combined, could have put the DPJ over the top in several races.

[Khephra]

7. Thanks for the added details everyone!

:-)

[Jack Rabbit]

15. BBC Link (23:48 GMT/Sunday 4:38 pm PDT): LDP fails to reach modest goal

From the BBC Online
Dated Sunday July 11 23:48 GMT (4:38 pm PDT)

Japan PM "suffers poll setback"

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's party has lost a significant number of seats in an upper house election, early results suggest.
Media projections show his Liberal Democrat Party will win 49 of the 121 seats at stake, failing to reach its modest target of 51 . . . .
Official results are expected Monday.

Read more.

[Art_from_Ark]

16. No big deal

Upper House elections in Japan are essentially meaningless. The LDP was only two shy of breaking even in a contest in which only half of the seats of a meaningless body were up for grabs. People will forget this election in a week, if not sooner, and things will go on as they have been.

[Kinkistyle]

20. Sure as hell is embarrassing though!

Koizumi was once on top of the Japanese political spectrum. His very hair was enough to make many an auntie swoon and buy a Koizumi-lion cellphone strap. Now hes treading on 50% and that declaration of grabbing 51 seats has shown that Koizumi's support and influence is weakened. Kind of embarrassing - imagine Babe Ruth striking out after calling a homerun (more like a double, since 51 was actually considered modest).

No matter where the actual power lies, at least we can see that Koizumi's support for Bush has definitely not helped him in the popularity department and that opens doors.

[dArKeR]

17. Koizumi defiant after electoral upset - FACE SLAP

AFP , TOKYO

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi tells reporters in Tokyo yesterday that his party had a tough fight in Sunday's election.
PHOTO: AFP

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi vowed yesterday to push ahead with his reform agenda despite suffering a setback in elections seen as a verdict on unpopular policies on Iraq and pensions.

Koizumi's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has ruled Japan almost uninterruptedly for nearly 50 years, won 49 of the 121 seats contested in Sunday's upper house election, a net loss of just one seat.

The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) won 50 seats, up from 38 before the election.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2004/07/13/2003178788

[Aidoneus]

18. Somebody with knowledge of Japan correct me if I'm wrong..

but given the way the Japanese system is rigged, doesn't a snowball have a better chance between tossed between Lucifer & Pope Alexander VI than the so-called "LDP" EVER going out of power? From what I can remember, I think they've only been out of power for one or two short periods since the atomic dust flew..?

Something to do with how rural districts are weighted(?) and the uniform & reactionary nature of them..?

[Kinkistyle]

19. ex-LDP Foreign PM badmouths LDP, gets LDP hubbie elected.

I thought it was hilarious that ex-LDP former Foreign PM for Koizumi, Makiko Tanaka goes on the campaign trail for her husband and proceeds to badmouth Koizumi and the LDP but manages to get her LDP husband elected anyway. Talk about f*ckin clout. Glad shes a Democrat. :)