|
Japan's PM suffers huge defeat
29/07/2007 17:40 - (SA)
Tokyo - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government has suffered a crushing defeat in upper house elections, but the conservative leader insisted he would stay in power.
Exit polls said that Abe's Liberal Democratic Party, which has ruled Japan almost continuously since 1955, was set to suffer one of the worst drubbings in its history, meaning a rocky road ahead for the hawkish premier's agenda.
Abe assumed power last year on a mission to build a nation prouder of its past, but he has come under fire over a raft of scandals including a government agency's mismanagement of the pension system.
Abe's coalition looked on course to lose around half of the seats it was defending in the upper house of parliament.
If confirmed, the house would come under opposition control.
But the more powerful lower house - where Abe's ruling coalition has an overwhelming majority - was not up for grabs, and the prime minister said he would stay in office.
Abe said in a television interview: "I have to accept the voice of the people," but added: "I will continue to assume my responsibility as prime minister because my task of nation-building has just begun."
Abe's top aides said they did not believe that voters had repudiated his signature policy goals, such as rewriting the country's pacifist constitution.
Previous prime ministers have resigned following upper house defeats that were less severe.
Analysts said that while the Liberal Democrats were worried that they did not have anyone better than Abe, it would be impossible for him to govern now
If Abe were to leave, it could stir memories of the 1990s, when Japan had a new prime minister nearly every year.
Foreign Minister Taro Aso has made it an open secret that he would like to succeed Abe, but critics say he shares much of the same agenda and is prone to gaffes.
- AFP
|
News
