Abe
WORLD / Asia-Pacific
Exit polls show big loss for Japan's ruling party in crucial test for PM
Abe
(AP)
Updated: 2007-07-29 21:27
TOKYO _ Japan's ruling party suffered a major loss in parliamentary
elections Sunday and was set to lose its majority in the upper house,
while the leading opposition party made huge gains, according to exit
polls broadcast by Japanese television networks.
Public broadcaster NHK said Abe intended to stay on, but Kyodo News
agency reported that the party's No. 2 official may resign to take
responsibility.
Up for grabs were 121 seats in the 242-member upper house of parliament.
While last-minute surveys indicated Abe's LDP and its coalition partner
the New Komei Party had been regaining ground, exit polls showed the
coalition far behind the 64 seats needed to keep its majority.
According to NTV, a major commercial network, the LDP was set to win 38
seats and the New Komei just 9, compared with 59 for the main opposition
Democratic Party of Japan.
The results would give the ruling coalition a total of 104 seats, down
from the 132 it had before the elections and short of the 121 needed for
a majority. The Democrats by contrast, would emerge with 111 seats, up
from 83.
The network based its forecast on exit polls broadcast shortly after the
voting ended Sunday night. Other networks had similar projections.
"The results appear to be very severe," Liberal Democratic Party deputy
chief Nobuteru Ishihara said at party headquarters.
Sunday's election was the biggest test yet for Abe, who took office less
than a year ago as Japan's youngest prime minister amid soaring support
ratings. His popularity, however, has plunged amid public outrage over
millions of lost pension records and scandals that spurred two ministers
to resign and another to kill himself.
Opposition leaders immediately jumped on the results as proof the tide
had turned against Abe.
"I think there was a lot of hope put on our party," Takaaki Matsumoto,
policy chief for the Democratic Party of Japan, said of the exit polls.
A loss wouldn't immediately threaten the political grip of the Liberal
Democratic Party, which has ruled Japan in an almost unbroken succession
of administrations since it was formed in 1955. The upper house is
largely ceremonial, and the LDP would keep control over the lower house,
which chooses the prime minister and can override most votes in the upper
house.
But a big loss could put Abe under pressure to step down, possibly
ushering in an era of political gridlock.
Resigning under such circumstances is rare, but not unprecedented.
1 2
Related Stories
� Japan starts parliamentary election vote
===========================================================================
� Japan's Abe makes final bid to avert election loss
===========================================================================
� Japan PM's job in peril in coming election
===========================================================================
� Japan PM to pick first woman defence minister - Media
===========================================================================
� Abe rips official for A-bomb comment
===========================================================================
� Abe rips official for A-bomb comment
===========================================================================
Top World News
� US to curb Iran with Gulf army deal
� Japan starts parliamentary election vote
� Iraqi security tighter ahead of Asia Cup
� Soyuz, shuttle cited in drinking reports
� Bombing, mosque riot rock Islamabad
Today's Top News
� Dalai Lama urged to abandon secessionist
� US to curb Iran with Gulf army deal
� Measures urged to boost pig farming
� Penalties vary when kids die in hot cars
� Taliban: Some Korean hostages sick
Most Commented/Read Stories in 48 Hours
Learn Chinese, Chinese Online Class, Learning Materials, Mandarin audio lessons, Chinese writing lessons, Chinese vocabulary lists, About chinese characters, News in Chinese, Go to China, Travel to China, Study in China, Teach in China, Dictionaries, Learn Chinese Painting, Your name in Chinese, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese songs, Chinese proverbs, Chinese poetry, Chinese tattoo, Beijing 2008 Olympics, Mandarin Phrasebook, Chinese editor, Pinyin editor, China Travel, Travel to Beijing, Travel to Tibet
No comments:
Post a Comment