(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many people in Japan would like an upcoming legislative ballot to result in the governing coalition losing control of the House of Councillors, according to a poll by Nikkei. 49 per cent of respondents do not want the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the New Komeito Clean Government Party (Kt) alliance to keep a majority of the seats.

In September 2006, Shinzo Abe became the new leader of the governing LDP and Japan's 90th prime minister. Abe vowed to "make Japan into a country full of vitality, opportunities and kindness."

An election to the upper chamber of Japan's Diet—the House of Councillors—is scheduled for Jul. 29. In March, Abe said he would "go into the elections with the current cabinet." Setbacks in Japan's upper house elections have meant the end of tenures for several prime ministers.

Last month, Japan's Social Insurance Agency (SIA) revealed it cannot identify close to 50 million payment records. On Jun. 3, Abe publicly apologized for the scandal, saying, "Concerns have spread among the public over pension records. As the one in charge of the government, I am really sorry."

On Jun. 25, opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) secretary-general Yukio Hatoyama said he is confident the party will win most of the votes in the upcoming ballot. Hatoyama referred to the DPJ's role in unveiling the pension scandal, adding, "This problem never would have come to light without the DPJ. We have helped ensure that pension contributions will be safer than they were."

Polling Data

Do you want the governing coalition to lose its majority in the House of Councillors?

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