Solid support for Japan’s Liberals

Press, 28 June 1983, Page 10

Solid support for Japan’s Liberals

NZPA-Reuter Tokyo Results declared yesterday in elections for Japan’s Upper House showed solid support for Mr Yasuhiro, Nakasone’s Liberal Democratic Party (L.D.P.). The poll, marked by the lowest voter turn-out on record, was seen as the first national test of Mr Nakasone’s policies since he took office as Prime Minister in November. Among the main pillars of his pro-Western policies are a stronger defence force and a more vigorous international role. Counting last evening (N.Z. time) showed that the L.D.P. had won 60 of the 126 seats contested, half the total in the Upper House.Computer projections by the National Broadcasting Corporation showed that the party was likely to add at least three seats to the 134 it held in the old House.

The main opposition group, the Japan Socialist Party (J.S.P.) had won 20 seats, but the Broadcasting Corporation predicted it would lose at least three of the 48 it held before the poll. A proportional representation system was used

for the first time for 50 of the seats, and 16 have gone to the L.D.P. In the 76 seats contested under the' traditional constituency systems, the L.D.P. had won 44, with only 14 results to come in. According to the computer projection the party was assured of another five. The projection showed that the L.D.P. could expect to win three of the 20 outstanding results on the proportional representation slate. Political analysts said that the party’s moderate showing in these seats could be attributed to the poor voter turn-out which at 57 per cent was 1.8 per cent below the previous all-time low in 1959. Turn-out was particularly disappointing in rural areas where the L.P.D. has most support. Final results were expected early today.