Japanese Prime Minister and ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president Shinzo Abe stands in front of the LDP winning candidates displayed by red paper rosettes at the party\u2019s headquarters in Tokyo on July 21, 2019 following the Parliament\u2019s upper house election. \u2013 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe\u2019s ruling bloc was on track on July 21 to retain its majority in the upper house after an election for around half the seats in the body, local media forecast. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI \/ AFP)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe claimed victory Sunday for his ruling coalition in the upper house election but appeared to fail to secure a \u201csupermajority\u201d in the chamber in support of his dream to amend the nation\u2019s pacifist constitution.<\/p>\n
With the results, the 64-year-old Abe, who is on course to become Japan\u2019s longest-serving prime minister, aims to shore up his mandate ahead of a crucial consumption tax hike later this year, along with trade negotiations with Washington.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ruling parties were given a majority \u2026 as people decided to urge us to firmly push for policies under the stable political base,\u201d Abe told public broadcaster NHK.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to meet their expectations soundly,\u201d he said at the headquarters of his Liberal Democratic Party.<\/p>\n
Abe\u2019s LDP and its coalition partner Komeito are forecast to take at least 69 of the 124 seats \u2014 about half the chamber \u2014 up for election on Sunday, with six seats still undecided, according to NHK.<\/p>\n
The two parties control 70 seats in the half of the 245-seat chamber that is not being contested, putting them on track to maintain their overall majority.<\/p>\n
NHK\u2019s projection and similar estimates by other media are based on exit polling and other analysis. <\/p>\n
The final numbers were not expected until Monday at the earliest.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe results, which were within expectations, indicated that voters chose the status quo, not a change,\u201d Shinichi Nishikawa, professor of political science at Meiji University in Tokyo, told AFP.<\/p>\n
Abe is almost certain to stay in power until November when he will break the record for the nation\u2019s longest-serving premier held by Taro Katsura, a revered politician who served three times between 1901 and 1913.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Amend the constitution<\/strong> \u2013Local media also predicted that forces in favour of revising the constitution, led by Abe\u2019s LDP, were certain to fail to reach 85 of the seats up for grabs, which would give them a two-thirds \u201csupermajority\u201d in the chamber.<\/p>\nFollowing the vote, however, Abe said he would continue trying to expand support for the revision even if the pro-revision group eventually misses the target, necessary for proposing a constitutional amendment.<\/p>\nAbe has pledged to \u201cclearly stipulate the role of the Self-Defence Forces in the constitution,\u201d which prohibits Japan from waging war and maintaining a military.<\/p>\nThe provisions, imposed by the United States after World War II, are popular with the public at large but reviled by nationalists like Abe, who see them as outdated and punitive.<\/p>\nHowever, any constitutional revision also requires approval in a national referendum.<\/p>\nWhile the ruling coalition appeared to win voters\u2019 confidence, \u201ctough situations are still ahead,\u201d said Koji Nakakita, professor of politics at Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo.<\/p>\nAmong his imminent tasks is to \u201csmoothly\u201d raise the consumption tax to 10 percent in October as part of efforts to ease swelling social security costs in the \u201cultra-aged\u201d country, Nakakita said.<\/p>\n\u201cAlso, the trade dispute with the US is a headache while it\u2019s hard for Japan to make a decision on Hormuz,\u201d he said, referring to US calls for an international flotilla to escort oil tankers through the Hormuz Strait.<\/p>\nVoter turnout was expected to be lower than 50 percent for the first time since the 1995 upper house election, NHK said.<\/p>\n\u201cI support the current government because I see no alternative,\u201d said Yoshiko Iida, a 45-year-old beauty therapist.<\/p>\n\u201cOpposition parties are woeful,\u201d she told AFP. \u201cI don\u2019t want to leave power to them.\u201d<\/p>\nSusumu Rokkaku, an 85-year-old male pensioner, said: \u201cI voted for an opposition candidate but whoever is elected, nothing will change. I have no expectations.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Following the vote, however, Abe said he would continue trying to expand support for the revision even if the pro-revision group eventually misses the target, necessary for proposing a constitutional amendment.<\/p>\n
Abe has pledged to \u201cclearly stipulate the role of the Self-Defence Forces in the constitution,\u201d which prohibits Japan from waging war and maintaining a military.<\/p>\n
The provisions, imposed by the United States after World War II, are popular with the public at large but reviled by nationalists like Abe, who see them as outdated and punitive.<\/p>\n
However, any constitutional revision also requires approval in a national referendum.<\/p>\n
While the ruling coalition appeared to win voters\u2019 confidence, \u201ctough situations are still ahead,\u201d said Koji Nakakita, professor of politics at Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo.<\/p>\n
Among his imminent tasks is to \u201csmoothly\u201d raise the consumption tax to 10 percent in October as part of efforts to ease swelling social security costs in the \u201cultra-aged\u201d country, Nakakita said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlso, the trade dispute with the US is a headache while it\u2019s hard for Japan to make a decision on Hormuz,\u201d he said, referring to US calls for an international flotilla to escort oil tankers through the Hormuz Strait.<\/p>\n
Voter turnout was expected to be lower than 50 percent for the first time since the 1995 upper house election, NHK said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI support the current government because I see no alternative,\u201d said Yoshiko Iida, a 45-year-old beauty therapist.<\/p>\n
\u201cOpposition parties are woeful,\u201d she told AFP. \u201cI don\u2019t want to leave power to them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Susumu Rokkaku, an 85-year-old male pensioner, said: \u201cI voted for an opposition candidate but whoever is elected, nothing will change. I have no expectations.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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