Polls & Research

Abe’s Party Faces Defeat in Japan Election

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) is leading all other political organizations in the country, according to a poll by Asahi. 30 per cent of respondents would cast their proportional representation vote for the opposition DPJ in this month's election to the House of Councillors.

Prime minister Shinzo Abe's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is second with 23 per cent, followed by the New Komeito Clean Government Party (Kt) with five per cent, the Communist Party of Japan (CPJ) with four per cent, and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) with three per cent.

In September 2006, Abe became the new leader of the governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Japan's 90th prime minister. Abe vowed to "make Japan into a country full of vitality, opportunities and kindness." Abe's tenure has been affected by massive clerical errors within the Social Insurance Agency (SIA), and the suicide of agriculture minister Toshikatsu Matsuoka.

The election to 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.

In Japan, members of the House of Councillors are elected to six-year terms, either in multi-seat prefectural constituencies or by proportional representation. Half of Japan's upper house is renewed every three years.

On Jul. 7, DPJ candidate Norio Takeuchi said he is confident he will earn a seat in Koichi—usually an LDP stronghold—because people are tired of corruption, adding, "It's always the same money politics. People are fed up with business as usual and they are demanding explanations."

On Jul. 11, SDP leader Mizuho Fukushima urged voters to express their views on the current administration, saying, "This election is a no-confidence vote on the Abe government, a vote to kick out Abe."

Polling Data

What political party would you vote for in the House of Councillors election?
(Proportional Representation)