Conservative party set to retake reins of power in Japan

　　The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) looked certain to regain its ruling party status in yesterday's House of Representatives election, according to projections by The Yomiuri Shimbun.

　　The projections had the LDP winning more than the 252 seats needed for a stable majority, which would allow the party to appoint the chairmen of all standing committees of the lower chamber of the Diet.

　　An LDP victory would put an end to three years and three months of rule by the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)-led administration.

　　Given the situation, Prime Minister and DPJ President Yoshihiko Noda said last night that he would resign from the DPJ head post.

　　"The election result is a severe blow to the party. As this is the public's judgement, I gravely accept it. As I'm responsible for the defeat, I've decided to resign as party president," Noda told a news conference.

　　The LDP overwhelmed the DPJ in both single-seat constituencies and proportional representation blocs, according to the Yomiuri projections.

　　As of 11:50pm, the LDP and New Komeito, the LDP's partner when it was last at the helm of government, together were projected to win 277 seats.

　　The LDP was projected to win 255 seats and Komeito, 22 seats. The DPJ was projected to win only 35 seats, and Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) was projected to win 38 seats.

　　Komeito was thus set to win more than the 21 seats it had before the election, according to the projections.

　　The DPJ, on the other hand, was projected to lose a large number of the 230 seats it held before the dissolution of the lower house, according to the projections. The DPJ was likely to end up winning fewer than 100 seats.

　　Among the so-called third-force parties, Ishin no Kai was projected to gain seats especially in the proportional representation blocs and was likely to become the third-largest party in the lower house.

　　This would be the second consecutive change in government since the last lower house election.

　　LDP President Shinzo Abe is likely to be elected as the next prime minister in a special Diet session expected to be convened in late December.

　　Abe, who served as prime minister in 2006-2007, would be the second prime minister under the current Constitution to serve again after a break, following Shigeru Yoshida in October 1948.

　　Voter turnout was expected to be about 59 per cent, according to a Yomiuri estimate, one of the lowest in the postwar period. The previous low was 59.65 per cent in 1996.

　　In Hokkaido Constituency No. 9, which former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama represented before he announced his retirement, LDP newcomer Manabu Horii was certain to win the seat vacated by Hatoyama.

　　Former Miyazaki Gov. Hideo Higashikokubaru, running under the Ishin no Kai banner, was sure to win in the Kinki proportional representation bloc.

　　Ichiro Ozawa, an influential member of Nippon Mirai no To (Tomorrow Party of Japan), retained his seat in Iwate Constituency No. 4.

　　Shintaro Ishihara, leader of Ishin no Kai, was sure to win a seat in the Tokyo proportional representation bloc.

　　His son Nobuteru, former LDP secretary general, also was to retain his seat in Tokyo Constituency No. 8.

　　Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister Makiko Tanaka from the DPJ was projected to lose her seat in Niigata Constituency No. 5, with her election in the proportional representation bloc pending.

　　It was also certain that Nippon Mirai no To would lose seats massively from the 61 it had before the election, according to the projections.

　　It may be difficult for the Japanese Communist Party to maintain the nine seats it held at the time of the dissolution, according to the projections.

　　The Social Democratic Party was likely to lose some seats from the five it had before the election.

　　The People's New Party and New Party Daichi were expected to win one seat each.

　　Economy, energy top issues

　　The major issues of the election were the economy and energy. On these issues, the LDP and DPJ clearly demonstrated a confrontational stance.

　　However, party leaders failed to delve into discussions on Japan's participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade framework, which was seen to be another key issue.

　　On the economy, Abe pointed to the strong yen and prolonged deflation as the main factors hurting the Japanese economy. To prop up the economy, Abe pledged to adopt stronger financial and fiscal policies than those taken under previous LDP administrations.

　　More specifically, he called for adopting bold, monetary easing policies by establishing a structure to enhance cooperation between the government and the Bank of Japan. He also pledged to actively promote public works projects.

　　However, Noda rejected Abe's argument, saying history shows it is impossible to end deflation through public works projects. He also emphasised that the DPJ-led government managed to create jobs via investment in fields with high growth potential. But yesterday's poll showed that many voters were apparently disappointed by the DPJ's handling of the economy.

　　Ishin no Kai pledged in its campaign platform that it would aim to achieve economic growth through measures other than promoting public works projects. The party also emphasised the need to amend the Constitution, especially the pacifist Article 9.

　　As yesterday's poll was the first national election since the Great East Japan Earthquake, parties also strongly focused on the nation's energy policy, particularly nuclear power.

　　While the DPJ called for abolishing nuclear power use in the 2030s, Abe denounced such nuclear-free slogans as "irresponsible." The LDP pledged that the nation would be fully prepared to ensure a stable energy supply.

　　Nippon Mirai no To stressed the need for denuclearisation, calling for a "graduation from nuclear [power]" within 10 years, but failed to attract voters.

　　Yesterday's election fielded the largest number of candidates under the current Constitution, as well as the largest number of parties under the current electoral system, which combines single-seat constituencies and proportional representation blocs. Twelve parties fielded a total of 1,504 candidates in the race--1,294 for 300 single-seat constituencies and 210 for 180 seats in proportional representation blocs.

　　Voters cast their ballots at 49,133 polling stations nationwide, excepting 81 stations where voting took place from Thursday to Saturday.