DPJ cleans up as LDP falls shy

[Hachiko]

The Democratic Party of Japan scored big gains in the House of Councilors election Sunday and was poised to outperform Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's Liberal Democratic Party in the number of seats won.

Japan Times

 

[Hiroshi66]

Well, the final results are finally in.

These are the seats that were up in the election, those that were being contested.

Democratic Party of Japan 50
Liberal Democratic Party 49
New Komeito Party 13
Japanese Communist Party 4
Social Democratic Party 2
Non-partisans 5

These are now the total amount of seats in the Upper House.

Liberal Democratic Party 114
Democratic Party of Japan 79
New Komeito Party 24
Japanese Communist Party 9
Social Democratic Party 5
Non-partisans 12

I am a conservative and support the LDP, and these election results are really, truly, dissapointing.

 

[Xkavar]

So what are these parties? Who's "conservative" and "liberal" by U.S. customs?

 

[Hiroshi66]

Well, the Liberal Democratic Party is the Republican Party of Japan. They are the ruling party, pro-Iraq, and they are conservative and right-wing. The Democratic Party is like the Amercan Democratic Party. They are liberal and socialist, anti-Iraq, and in opposition. The Social Democrats and the Communists are what their names say, and New Komeito is a Buddhist party, like Islamists and Christian fundamentalists. Hope I helped.

 

[Foxtrot Uniform]

Well I'm a socialist, anti-iraq, liberal, democrat, so it sure is nice to see that the DPJ is doing better. Though I also support the Communist party, and it would have been nice to see them get more seats.

 

[Hiroshi66]

Well, I am a conservative, pro-Iraq, right-wing, and republican, so I support the LDP. If I was FORCED to support a left-wing party, I would support the Shakai Minshu-to. But I am a right-winger, so I support the LDP. Not far right, mind you, right-center.