Sunday, December 16, 2012

16 December 2012: General Election in Japan

Today is the 25th General election in Japan (since 1945). There are more than 12 political parties competing to govern Japan in next four years. Public opinion polls show that Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is likely to win a simple majority in this lower house election.

A spectrum of policy choices manifested by each political party include revitalizing the economy, for or against the use of nuclear energy, pro or anti Trans-Pacific Partnership (a free trade agreement among 12 countries) negotiation, amendment of constitution, reform in education and others. Thus, unlike the previous election when the electorate's choice was clear: LDP or the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ). In this general election, the voters would have to choose which political party offers the most effective and realistic policies that could be the best for the country in the next four years.

Regardless of the outcome, it is likely that Japanese will not remember the names of political parties listed below that compete for their votes.

The Democratic Party of Japan
The Liberal Democratic Party of Japan
New Komeito
Japanese Communist Party
Social Democratic Party
Tomorrow Party of Japan
Your Party
Japan Restoration Party
People's Party
New Party Daichi-Shinminshu
New Party Nippon
New Renaissance Party
Green Wind
People's Life First
The Sunrise Party
The Sunrise Party of Japan
Tax Cut Japan
Kizuna Party

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

The result was land-slide victory by LDP. Looking into the in-depth
analysis, it was the alternative selection to DPJ by elimination.
LDP's vote has not been inreased at all compared with the votes at
the last election. It was a weired result by the election system.
LDP must humbly take this into their consoderation when they work their agenda for the new government.
Andy