File Photo: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (Associated Press)
Tokyo, Japan:
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe won comfortable re-election Sunday in a snap poll he had billed as a referendum on his economic policies after early success faded into a recession.
But a low turnout from unenthusiastic voters beset by a heavy snowfall across much of the country could cast doubt on the endorsement he will claim for "Abenomics" -- his signature plan to fix the country's flaccid economy.
Media exit polls shortly after voting finished showed his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior partner Komeito had swept the ballot, with an unassailable two-thirds majority in the lower house of parliament that will give them the power to override the upper house.
TV Asahi said the pairing had won 333 of the 475 seats, while TBS put the figure at 328.
The online version of the respected Nikkei newspaper said the LDP alone had won between 290 and 310 seats, and was "on course to secure the two thirds (317 seats) in the chamber with coalition partner Komeito".
"This victory will enhance Abe's political capital and allow him to tackle tough issues more comfortably," said Yoshinobu Yamamoto, professor of politics at the University of Niigata Prefecture.
Abe, 60, was only halfway through his four-year term when he called the vote last month.
The first two of his "three arrows" of Abenomics -- monetary easing and fiscal stimulus -- have largely hit their targets; the once-painfully high yen has plunged, giving exporters a boost, and stocks have risen dramatically.
Prices have also begun rising after years of treading water -- proof, says Abe, that this is the beginning of a virtuous circle of economic growth, with higher wages soon to follow.
However a sales tax rise in April snuffed out consumer spending, sending Japan into the two negative quarters of growth that make a recession.
THIRD ARROW
Economists say more important than the sugar rush offered by easy money and government spending is structural reform of Japan's highly-regulated and protected economy -- the third arrow of Abenomics.
Abe has been criticised for not being bold enough in taking on the vested interests that are the real key to reversing nearly two decades of economic underperformance.
His fresh four-year mandate may stiffen his resolve for these reforms and see off opposition from within his ill-disciplined LDP, a party given to bouts of regicide.
But with only 34.98 percent of voters casting ballots by 6pm (0900 GMT), there may be questions over whether this really is an endorsement, or just the default reaction of an electorate numbed by a lack of viable alternatives.
The turnout at 6pm was down 6.79 points from the 2012 election. But early voting -- which was completed by Saturday -- was up by almost a tenth from the previous poll, to around 13 million ballots, according to the government.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga dismissed quibbles over the low turnout.
"We don't know which party will benefit from a low turnout rate, so we think we received" a mandate from voters, he told TBS.
"The prime minister feels very strongly about pulling Japan out of deflation and revitalising the Japanese economy," he said.
Voters polled in the run-up to the ballot were uninspired by the choices on offer.
Only two-thirds of respondents told Kyodo News earlier this week that they were interested in the election.
Many Japanese were bitterly disappointed by three years under the Democratic Party of Japan from 2009, which saw three emasculated prime ministers and a series of policy flops.
But a low turnout from unenthusiastic voters beset by a heavy snowfall across much of the country could cast doubt on the endorsement he will claim for "Abenomics" -- his signature plan to fix the country's flaccid economy.
Media exit polls shortly after voting finished showed his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior partner Komeito had swept the ballot, with an unassailable two-thirds majority in the lower house of parliament that will give them the power to override the upper house.
TV Asahi said the pairing had won 333 of the 475 seats, while TBS put the figure at 328.
The online version of the respected Nikkei newspaper said the LDP alone had won between 290 and 310 seats, and was "on course to secure the two thirds (317 seats) in the chamber with coalition partner Komeito".
"This victory will enhance Abe's political capital and allow him to tackle tough issues more comfortably," said Yoshinobu Yamamoto, professor of politics at the University of Niigata Prefecture.
Abe, 60, was only halfway through his four-year term when he called the vote last month.
The first two of his "three arrows" of Abenomics -- monetary easing and fiscal stimulus -- have largely hit their targets; the once-painfully high yen has plunged, giving exporters a boost, and stocks have risen dramatically.
Prices have also begun rising after years of treading water -- proof, says Abe, that this is the beginning of a virtuous circle of economic growth, with higher wages soon to follow.
However a sales tax rise in April snuffed out consumer spending, sending Japan into the two negative quarters of growth that make a recession.
THIRD ARROW
Economists say more important than the sugar rush offered by easy money and government spending is structural reform of Japan's highly-regulated and protected economy -- the third arrow of Abenomics.
Abe has been criticised for not being bold enough in taking on the vested interests that are the real key to reversing nearly two decades of economic underperformance.
His fresh four-year mandate may stiffen his resolve for these reforms and see off opposition from within his ill-disciplined LDP, a party given to bouts of regicide.
But with only 34.98 percent of voters casting ballots by 6pm (0900 GMT), there may be questions over whether this really is an endorsement, or just the default reaction of an electorate numbed by a lack of viable alternatives.
The turnout at 6pm was down 6.79 points from the 2012 election. But early voting -- which was completed by Saturday -- was up by almost a tenth from the previous poll, to around 13 million ballots, according to the government.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga dismissed quibbles over the low turnout.
"We don't know which party will benefit from a low turnout rate, so we think we received" a mandate from voters, he told TBS.
"The prime minister feels very strongly about pulling Japan out of deflation and revitalising the Japanese economy," he said.
Voters polled in the run-up to the ballot were uninspired by the choices on offer.
Only two-thirds of respondents told Kyodo News earlier this week that they were interested in the election.
Many Japanese were bitterly disappointed by three years under the Democratic Party of Japan from 2009, which saw three emasculated prime ministers and a series of policy flops.
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