Japanese began voting in an election on Sunday that looks set to topple the long-ruling conservative party, handing the novice opposition the job of reviving a weak economy and coping with a fast-ageing population.
A victory by the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) would end more than 50 years of almost unbroken rule by Prime Minister Taro Aso’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and break a deadlock in Parliament, where the opposition and its allies won control of the less powerful upper chamber in 2007 and can delay Bills.
The Democrats have pledged to refocus spending on households with child allowances and aid for farmers while wresting control of policy from bureaucrats, often blamed for Japan’s failure to address problems such as a creaking pension system.
The party also wants to forge a diplomatic stance more independent of key security ally the United States while building better ties with Asia, often frayed by bitter wartime memories.
Voting in the lower house election began at 10pm GMT on Saturday and will finish at 11am GMT.
Japanese media will announce the results of exit polls immediately after voting ends. Later in the evening they will issue further projections based on partial vote counts.
Media surveys suggest the DPJ could win by a landslide in what would be akin to a political earthquake in Japan, although some analysts say those predictions might be excessive.
Democratic Party leader Yukio Hatoyama, the wealthy 62-year-old grandson of a former prime minister, told voters on Saturday the election would change Japanese history.
”This is an election to choose whether voters can muster the courage to do away with the old politics,” Hatoyama said.
It was a sunny morning in Tokyo but weather could be a factor if tropical storm Krovanh, nearing the capital, brings gales and rain that keep voters at home. High turnout is generally thought to benefit the opposition.
Financial markets would generally welcome an end to the two-year parliamentary deadlock.
But analysts worry spending plans by the Democrats, a mix of former LDP members, ex-Socialists and younger conservatives founded in 1998, will inflate Japan’s already massive public debt and push up government bond yields.
Economic challenges
The party has vowed not to raise the 5% sales tax for four years while it focuses on cutting wasteful spending.
A new government will face the challenge of nurturing a nascent recovery from Japan’s worst recession since World War II while tackling long-term problems such as a greying population.
Japan is ageing more quickly than any other rich nation, inflating social security costs. More than a quarter of Japanese are set to be 65 or over by 2015.
”We need a change in government. I think the Democrats will really tackle the pension problem,” said 60-year-old Sachiko Nogi in Tokyo. ”If it’s not fixed, there’s no tomorrow.”
The economy returned to growth in the second quarter, mostly due to short-term stimulus around the globe, but the jobless rate hit a record 5,7% in July.
”For voters, the biggest issue by far is the economy,” the Japan Times newspaper said in a weekend editorial. ”Voters must decide Sunday whether to support the LDP’s conventional method or the DPJ’s more novel approach to revive the economy.”
Aso told voters on Saturday the Democrats would be unable to manage the economy while the business-friendly LDP had better plans for growth. The ruling party has favoured steps to promote corporate activity rather than direct payouts for consumers.
”There is not one line in the Democratic Party’s manifesto about economic growth,” Aso said.
A victorious Hatoyama is expected to quickly cement a coalition with two tiny allies whose cooperation is needed to maintain control of the upper house.
A new leader will want to attend a series of international meetings including a UN General Assembly gathering and a G20 summit in Pittsburgh later in September.
Voter anger over scandals, policy zig-zags and a perceived failure to address tough long-term problems has eroded support for the LDP, but enthusiasm for the Democrats has been lukewarm.
That means keeping voters happy ahead of an upper house election less than a year away is likely to be a top priority. – Reuters