Japan's ruling party braces for blow to its majority in lower house in polls

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishibas conservative ruling party braced for a blow to its comfortable majority in the lower house of parliament in Sundays elections amid public rage over the partys financial scandals and discontent over a stagnant economy The results could weaken Ishibas grip on power possibly leading Japan into political uncertainty though a change of government was not expectedIshiba took office on October 1 replacing his predecessor Fumio Kishida who resigned after failing to pacify the public over widespread slush fund practices among Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers Ishiba immediately ordered a snap election in hopes of shoring up support by using his outspoken reformist image Voting began Sunday morning across Japan where 1344 candidates including a record 314 women are running for office Polls close at 8 pm with early results expected within hoursIshiba has set a goal of retaining 233 seats for the ruling coalition between the LDP and its Buddhistbacked junior partner Komeito a majority in the 465member lower house the more powerful of Japans twochamber parliamentIshiba in his final speeches Saturday in Tokyo apologised over his partys mishandling of funds and pledged to restart as an equal fair humble and honest party He said only the LDPs ruling coalition can responsibly run Japan with its experience and dependable policies Once a popular politician known for his criticism of even his own partys policies Ishiba has also seen support for his weeksold Cabinet plungeThe biggest opposition party the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan is led by centrist leader Yoshihiko Noda who briefly served as prime minister during the LDPs 20092012 descent from power Nodas party is expected to make significant gains Noda says Sundays election is a rare chance for a change of government which will be the most effective political reform though his party has trouble finding other opposition groups with which to cooperateAt a downtown Tokyo polling station early Sunday a number of voters said they considered the corruption scandal and economic measures A 77yearold man said his biggest concern was rising prices and wondered if the LDP should win despite the wrongdoings Another resident in her 60s said she would vote in hope of making a changeAnalysts suggest Ishiba could fall short of reaching his target though his LDP was expected to remain the top party in Japans parliament as voters are sceptical about the oppositions ability and inexperience Losing a majority would mean Ishiba would have difficulty establishing policies and could face calls from within his party for a replacement ahead of next summers election in the upper house experts sayThe publics criticisms against the slush funds scandal has intensified and it wont go away easily said Izuru Makihara a University of Tokyo professor of politics and public policy There is a growing sense of fairness and people are rejecting privileges for politicians Makihara suggested Ishiba needs bold political reform measures to regain public trustIshiba pledged to revitalise the rural economy address Japans falling birth rate and bolster defense But his Cabinet has old faces only two women and was seen as alienating members of the scandaltainted faction led by late premier Shinzo Abe Ishiba quickly retreated from earlier support for a dual surname option for married couples and legalising samesex marriage an apparent compromise to the partys influential ultraconservativesHis popularity fell because of the gap in what the public expected him to be as prime minister versus the reality of what he brought as prime minister said Rintaro Nishimura a political analyst at The Asia Group The LDP is also being tested Sunday for its ability to break from the legacy of Abe whose policies focused on security trade and industry but largely ignored equality and diversity and its nearly eightyear long rule led to the corruption experts sayThere could be regrouping attempts among opposition parties to decide whether to cooperate among themselves or join the ruling coalition political watchers say Potential new partners for the LDP include the Democratic Party of the People a breakaway group from the CPDJ which calls for lower taxes and a conservative Japan Innovation Party though both are currently denying a possible coalition with the LDPThe LDP whose dissolution of most factions that used to help bring together support for pushing through on elections and on policy is less cohesive and could enter the era of shortlived prime ministers Ishiba is expected to last at least until the ruling bloc approves key budget plans at the end of DecemberThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for 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