Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it
exclusively produces is in the public domain.
July 29, 2007

Japan's Ruling Party Suffers Major Defeat
-----------------------------------------

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=184BD0C:A6F02AD83191E160E1F6CDF35B9F6B059574F7DCC14957C0 It is sharp rebuke
for PM Shinzo Abe's government; despite loss, he says he will not
resign Voters in Japan handed the country's ruling party a major loss
when they cast their ballots for the upper house of Japan's parliament
on Sunday. Early indications are that the Liberal Democratic Party
will fall well short of the 64 seats needed to keep control of the
upper house. It was a sharp rebuke for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's
government. Catherine Makino reports from Tokyo.









Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bites his lips after learning the
return of the upper house elections at the Liberal Democratic Party
headquarters in Tokyo, 29 Jul 2007Despite the loss, Prime Minister
Shinzo Abe said Sunday evening he would not resign.

Mr. Abe tells journalists he will fulfill his obligations to the
people and that he will not dissolve his Cabinet but that some
ministers might change.

He also says he will focus on building up the nation.

But analysts say the loss could force his Liberal Democratic Party to
make compromises if the government wants to enact legislation.

After early returns Sunday evening indicated a defeat for the LDP and
its coalition partner, Hironori Seko, the LDP spokesman in the upper
house, said he understood the voters' message.

Seko says the LDP accepts its huge loss and takes it very seriously.
He says that while he was campaigning, he heard many people say they
want change, and they especially complained about the economy.

Mr. Seko won the race for his seat.



The losses signal a backlash against Mr. Abe's agenda, which includes
revising the constitution and creating a more patriotic educational
system. He became prime minister last September after winning an
election for control of the LDP.

Analysts say Sunday's election shows voter outrage at the government's
blunder in losing 50 million pension records, leaving people worried
about their retirement funds. Mr. Abe was also hit by scandals
involving his ministers, which led three of them to resign and one to
commit suicide. Voters are also angry that improvements in the economy
have yet to help average workers.



However, the bad showing will not immediately end the ruling party's
reign, because it has a majority in the more powerful lower house. The
upper house does not select the prime minister.



Half of the 242 seats in the upper house were up for election Sunday.
Full results in all the races are expected early Monday.




.