Japan´s ruling bloc suffers defeat in parliamentary election

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Source: CCTV.com | 07-30-2007 08:28

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe puts a rose on the name of the candidate who are expected to be elected in the upper house election at the ruling Liberal Democratic Party headquarters in Tokyo July 29, 2007 after an upper house election. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

In Japan, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party is reeling from a major defeat in Sunday's parliamentary elections. The opposition grabbed the majority in the upper house for the first time since the LDP was established in 1955.

Following the loss, LDP Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa tendered his resignation to Shinzo Abe, taking responsibility for the unfavorable election results.

Final results show the opposition parties and independents, led by the Democratic Party of Japan, hold 75 of the 121 seats available in Sunday's elections.

They now hold 137 seats in the 242-seats upper chamber.

The ruling bloc of the Liberal Democratic Party and the New Komeito party won 37 and nine seats respectively.

Their coalition has 105 seats in the upper house.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, leader of the LDP, says he will stay on despite the crushing failure.

Abe said, "I think I must continue to carry out my responsibilities as Prime Minister in order to push reform forward and to create 'a new country' as if I have only started my mission."

The head of LDP election strategy analyzed some of factors working against the ruling coalition.

Yoshio Yatsu, LDP election strategy head, said, "There was a headwind against us. Pension problems, financial and political scandals and other problems were against us. Those voters that used to support the LDP may have decided to teach us a lesson."

Experts say the loss of the majority in the upper house will not immediately reverse the LDP's hold on power. It has a huge majority in the more powerful lower chamber, which elects the prime minister.

But with the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan controlling the upper chamber, it will be tougher to enact laws.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.(Xinhua Photo)

Editor:Du Xiaodan