Japanese Election promises two party system

Japanese Election promises two party system and major shift in foreign policy

Japan’s ruling conservative Liberal Democratic Party suffered a crushing defeat signaling a sweeping victory for the untested Democratic Party of Japan. The analysts say the election is going to mark the dawn of a true two party system after half a century of almost unbroken Liberal Democratic Party rule. The LDP’s only previous stint in opposition lasted for about ten months in 1993-94 when a coalition of eight smaller parties briefly took charge. In the elections of August 30, 2009 as voters overwhelmingly cast their ballots in favor of a left-of-center opposition camp that has promised to rebuild the economy and breathe new life into the country after 54 years of virtual one-party rule. The opposition Democratic Party of Japan led by Hatoyama won 308 seats in the 480- member in Lower House of the Parliament ousting the Liberal Democrats, who have governed Japan for all but ten months in 1993-94 since 1955 when the party was formed. The vote was seen as a barometer of frustrations over Japan’s worst economy is slump since World War II and a loss of confidence in the ruling Liberal Democrats’ ability to tackle tough problems such as the rising national debt and rapidly aging population. The loss by the Liberal Democrats would open the way for the Democratic Party of Japan, headed by Yukio Hatoyama, to oust Prime Minister Taro Aso and establish a new Cabinet, possibly within the nest few weeks. It would smooth debates in parliament, which has been deadlocked since the Democrats and their allies took over the less powerful upper house in 2007. Last week , the government reported that the unemployment rate for July hit 5.7 percent- the highest in Japan’s post world war II era-while deflation intensified and families have cut spending because they are insecure about the future.“The ruling party has betrayed the people over the past four years, driving the economy to the edge of a cliff, building up more than 6 trillion yen in public debt, wasting money, ruining our social security net and widening the gap between the rich and the poor. “ –says Democratic Party with the emphasis, “We will change Japan.”
When DPJ takes power probably in about two weeks observes say it is unlikely to quickly or radically shit foreign policy, despite the campaign season rhetoric opting instead for a pragmatic approach. The democrats have also said they will make Tokyo’s diplomacy less US-centric. But Hatoyam, who holds a doctorate in engineering from Stanford University, insists they will not seek dramatic change in Japan’s foreign policy. “My sense of the DPJ is that they have wanted a little distance between Tokyo and Washington”, says Hatoyama. Despite trade disputes and friction about US bases on its soil, Japan largely emulated the US free model as it rose from the ashes of war to become Asia’s top economy. Kizumi even sent non-combat troops to US President Bush war in Iraq. The DPJ has also said it would not renew a naval mission that has supported the US-led war in Afghanistan when its current mandate expires next year. Leaders of Asian countries welcome the historic shift in Power after Japan’s general election and sought closer ties with Tokyo with only North Korea sounding a note of dissent.


“If Japan wants to secure international trust, it must squarely break with its crooked past”-ruling Communist part newspaper Rogdong Sinmun of North Korea commented.Historian say more than 200000 women mostly from Korea and China were forced to work as sex slaves for Japanese troops when Japan imposed brutal colonial rule over Korea from 1910-45.” But Seoul voiced hopes of a further improvement in relations with president Lee Myung-Bak with congratulating Hatoyama.
The democrats are proposing toll-free highways, free high schools, and income support for farmers, monthly allowances for job seekers in training, a higher minimum wage and tax cuts. The estimated bill comes to 16.8 trillion yen, if fully implemented starting in fiscal year 2013.Aso whose own support ratings have sagged to a dismal 20 percent -repeatedly stressed his party led Japan’s rise from the ashes of the World War II into one of the world biggest economic powers and are best equipped to get it out of its current morass. But the current state of the economy has been a major liability for his party.
Support for the LDP which has ruled for all but ten to eleven months since its founding in 1955, has been on a downtrend for years, but charismatic leader Junichiro Koizumi managed to lead the party to a huge election win in 2005 with promises of market-friendly reforms. Those reforms came under fire even within the LDP for worsening social and income gaps and were further attacked after the global financial crisis tipped Japan into recession. “We are not saying that the free market principles are all bad-but the current economic situation is one where there need to be corrections in areas where reform went too far”, Hatoyma said. A series of scandals, policy-flops and a perceived inability to address deep-rooted problems such as creaking pensions and health systems eroded the LDP mandate. Voters having taken a gamble on change will want to see proof quickly that the Democrats can do a better job. “Its going to be crucial how they spend the first year in office, so in that sense they have to get focused very quickly to get things accomplished,”- said Sophia University professor Koichi Nagano. He continues “Otherwise the goodwill may dissipate very quickly and they may face a hostile upper house within a year.” Hatoyama will want to have his cabinet up and running in time to attend a UN General Assembly meeting and a G20 leaders’ summit in Pittsburgh in September. The Democrats want to forge a diplomatic stance more independent of the United States, raising fears about possible friction in the alliance.
Japanese Parliament which is known as Diet has two chambers. The House of Representatives having 480 members who are elected for a four year term, 300 members in single seat constituencies and 180 members by proportional representation in 11 block districts. In this system, each voter votes twice, once for a candidate in the local constituency, and once for a party, each of which has a lost of candidates for each block district. The House of Councilors has 242 members elected for a six year term, 146 members in multi seat constituencies and 96 by proportional representation on the national level. Half of the Councilors come up for election every three years.



For many years Japan was a one party dominant state until 1993 with the Liberal Democratic Party as the leading party. They lost office and then soon regained power. The 2009 elections handed the first non-LDP victory to the Democratic Party of Japan. Due to the majoritarian parallel voting system it is unlikely that Japan will develop a multi-party system, but there is speculation that after 2009 Japan will develop a two-party system.
LDP Secretary General Hiroyuki Hosoda says on Sunday just after election that he and two other top officials plan to submit their resignation to Prime Minister Taro Aso, who serves a president of the party. A top official of LDP says other officials plan to step down from their posts over its apparent crushing defeat in parliamentary elections. It’s a great learning for the political leaders of Bangladesh. Since they prove less important for the party and for the nation, they need to resign. This culture is yet to appear in our country.



Md. Masum Billah
Senior Manager: BRAC Educaiton Programme, PACE
( The writer regularly writes on various national and international issues)
Phone: 9355253 (res), 01714-091431(cell)
Email: mmbillah2000@yahoo.com