Mori’s party loses, but retains power with coalition

The big gainer in this election is the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), improving its strength from pre-election 95 to 127, a net gain of 32 seats.

The Social Democratic Party, once the main opposition group, won 16, gaining an extra two, while Liberal Party also gained two by winning 18.

The LDP-Komeito-New Conservative party coalition, with a total of 264 in a House of 480, has a majority that gives itself the command of all Parliamentary committees.

It can, therefore, enact any law requiring simple majority, but cannot amend the constitution which needs two-third majority.

LDP leaders today decided to retain Mori as Prime Minister. Later, the coalition parties did the same. None wanted to change Japan’s Prime Minister just four weeks before the G-8 summit he is going to chair.

Prime Minister Mori then decided to convene the new House on July 4 to elect a new premier as is required under law.

Mori is among the most unpopular of Japan’s post-war leaders, coming under fire for a string of gaffes in his three months in office, including calling Japan a "divine nation," evoking painful memories of wartime emperor-worship.

But he is unlikely to resign, despite his party’s poor showing.

Mori said today the absolute majority won by his three-way ruling coalition in yesterday’s elections indicates the public’s vote for confidence for his government.

The results of the poll mean "that we won much support", Mori told reporters.

He also said he wanted to retain Finance Minister Kiichi Miyazawa and Foreign Minister Yohei Kono in his new government line-up.

All ministers dealing with the G-8 summit, beginning July 21, should be kept on in the fresh cabinet, he said.

One clear sign of some progress came in the number of women getting elected — 35 seats, the most since 1946. Women have had a hard time getting their voice heard in this male-dominated society. Before the election, women had 23 seats in the powerful lower house.

The election also made another point that any opposition party sharing power with LDP has to pay a price which can be unaffordable.

It is for the first time that Komeito suffered election losses as heavy as it did yesterday. New Conservatives dropped eleven seats. A few years ago, the Socialist Party was practically wiped out after its leader became Prime Minister for twenty months in an LDP-managed government.