Japanese voters began voting today to renew half of the seats in the upper house, a contest overshadowed by the assassination two days ago of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during a campaign rally in Nara.
Japan’s current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, whose Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is seen as the favorite in the election, denounced the “barbaric” action against his former mentor but insisted on the importance of “defending the free and fair elections that are the basis of democracy”. “We will never succumb to violence,” he stressed.
The assassination of Abe, one of Japan’s best-known politicians, caused shock in the country and abroad.
After being suspended following news of the killing, campaigning resumed on Saturday under heightened security after police in Nara admitted “indisputable” lapses in security at Abe’s rally.
The election campaign has been dominated by domestic issues, notably rising prices and risks to electricity supplies, while the heat wave that has been ravaging Japan since late June has raised fears of power shortages.
The governing coalition, which includes the 64-year-old Kishida’s LDP and its ally the Komeito Party, is projected to win more than 70 of the 125 seats up for grabs. The Senate has a total of 248 seats, half of which are renewed every three years.
Having not presented an attractive alternative, the centre-left Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) risks losing some of the 45 seats it holds and its position as the official opposition party.
In a country often criticized for the lack of women in politics, institutions and business, a record 33% of the 545 candidates are women.
A landslide victory in these elections would consolidate Kishida’s power three years before the next election.
Source: Capital
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
