National News Japan's ruling party regains simple majority in parliamentary elections

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Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's ruling party clawed its way back to a simple majority in parliament Nov. 10 following elections that strengthened the main opposition party and signaled a shift away from a political system that has long been dominated by a single party

Balloting Nov. 9 was the first major test for Koizumi since he took power more than two years ago, and he said the results gave his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)-led bloc the mandate it needs to go ahead with reforms.

The LDP initially won only 237 seats but later regained a simple majority in the 480-seat lower house of Parliament by merging with one of its junior partners and converting three independent lawmakers.

The announcement means the ruling party, which is also supported by the Buddhist-backed New Komeito Party, tightened its grip on the powerful chamber - retaining control of all committees as well as the ability to pass legislation

The centrist Democrats, meanwhile, boosted their seats to 177 - 40 more than before - assuring a more unified opposition than its fragmented and powerless predecessors.

Koizumi, 61, said his administration would immediately start hammering out details for tax cuts, public pension reforms and privatization of the highways administration.

He also pledged to continue prodding banks to dispose of their massive bad loans to reviｖe the world's second-largest economy.

But the vote was hardly a resounding victory for the LDP, which failed to win a simple majority on its own, and it reflected growing dissatisfaction with the conservative party's inability to end an economic slowdown that has persisted for 13 years. (AP)

衆院選、与党が過半数確保

衆議院選挙は9日投票が行なわれ、自民党は議席数を減らしたものの、公明党、保守新党の与党3党で過半数を超えた。一方、民主党は議席数を40伸ばした。

Shukan ST: Nov. 21, 2003

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