General Election Announced

The 48^th election of House of Representatives was officially announced on Tuesday. 1,180 candidates for 465 seats were registered to Central Election Management Council by 5 p.m. While Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hopes to maintain his administration with taking simple majority by his Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito, the opposite parties define the election as struggle for ending unilateral politics dcunducted by Abe. The parties embarked on twelve-day campaign before the showdown on October 22^nd.

The election is executed in two ways: 289 electoral districts and 176 proportional representatives. The parties submit their registered candidates for electoral districts and list of candidates for proportional representatives. A candidate for a district can also be filed in the list of proportional representatives. The winner will be selected according to the ranking of the list.

LDP raised 332 candidates for the districts. While it possessed 275 lawmakers elected from the districts, it is inevitable to reduce it, because of current advance of Party of Hope, which political stance is similar to LDP. Surveys predict that LDP will lose 50 seats, including proportional representatives. Criticism against Abe’s unilateral handling of politics is broadly recognized by the voters. For Abe this it a struggle of damage control.

With a hope of taking administration, Party of Hope raised 235 candidates in both categories of election, slightly exceeding simple majority of 233. Their candidates consist of novice politicians recruited by the populist party leader Yuriko Koike, and the deserters from unpopular Democratic Party. Caused by mishandling of DP President Seiji Maehara in wrapping up all the lawmakers, the candidates of Party of Hope have to confront other opposite candidates, making defeat of LDP difficult.

Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan raised 78 candidates. While their leftist policies do not affect young voters, most of their candidates will receive unusual support from Japan Communist Party. Unlike usual pattern of raising candidates in all districts, JCP took a strategy of refraining from raising contender against CDPJ candidate. It is likely that integration of votes between CDPJ and JCP will reduce LDP winners.

Even if Abe can maintain the majority of LDP and Komeito coalition, it is possible that he will have to step down as Prime Minister due to internal criticisms on his handlings. Ending unilateral advance of Abe to constitutional amendment, pressuring North Korea or changing purpose of consumption tax hike will be the great victory for the opposite parties.