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| Japan's PM faces electoral test | Japan's PM faces electoral test |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Polls have opened in Japan in national elections for the country's upper house of parliament that could see Prime Minister Shinzo Abe forced from office. | |
| This is the first electoral test for Mr Abe since he took office in September. | This is the first electoral test for Mr Abe since he took office in September. |
| Although the election will not directly affect Mr Abe, correspondents say a heavy defeat for his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) could force him to resign. | Although the election will not directly affect Mr Abe, correspondents say a heavy defeat for his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) could force him to resign. |
| His popularity has been hit by a series of ministerial gaffes and scandals, and opinion polls suggest a poor result. | His popularity has been hit by a series of ministerial gaffes and scandals, and opinion polls suggest a poor result. |
| If the citizens let Abe continue his governance, this country will never see democracy again Opposition leader Ichiro Ozawa Q&A: Upper house poll | If the citizens let Abe continue his governance, this country will never see democracy again Opposition leader Ichiro Ozawa Q&A: Upper house poll |
| The most significant factor has been a nationwide pensions debacle, with a government agency admitting it has lost records relating to millions of payments. | The most significant factor has been a nationwide pensions debacle, with a government agency admitting it has lost records relating to millions of payments. |
| Pensions are a key issue in Japan's greying society and, although the mistake was not made under his leadership, many voters have started to question his skills in the job. | Pensions are a key issue in Japan's greying society and, although the mistake was not made under his leadership, many voters have started to question his skills in the job. |
| Mr Abe became prime minister following popular leader Junichiro Koizumi's decision to step down last year. | Mr Abe became prime minister following popular leader Junichiro Koizumi's decision to step down last year. |
| Referendum? | Referendum? |
| Half of the 242 seats in Japan's House of Councillors, or upper house, are being contested, wiht polls due to close at 2000 (1100 GMT). | |
| Results are expected shortly after that. | |
| Mr Ozawa has seen his Democratic Party of Japan gain groundMr Abe's LDP-led ruling coalition currently controls 132 seats. They need to win 64 of the seats that are up for election in order to retain their majority. | |
| The 52-year-old's ruling coalition already has a sizeable majority in the more powerful lower house - which chooses the prime minister. | The 52-year-old's ruling coalition already has a sizeable majority in the more powerful lower house - which chooses the prime minister. |
| Several top LDP lawmakers backed Mr Abe in his final campaign days, emphasising that this election was not a referendum on his leadership. | Several top LDP lawmakers backed Mr Abe in his final campaign days, emphasising that this election was not a referendum on his leadership. |
| But some analysts say Mr Abe may feel he has to take responsibility for a poor result and step down. | But some analysts say Mr Abe may feel he has to take responsibility for a poor result and step down. |
| Reform plea | Reform plea |
| On his final day of campaigning on Saturday, the prime minister asked voters to allow him to press on with his reform programme. | On his final day of campaigning on Saturday, the prime minister asked voters to allow him to press on with his reform programme. |
| Addressing a crowd in Tokyo he said: "We are a responsible party. Please give the LDP power. Do we move ahead with reform or do we go backward? We will surely push ahead." | Addressing a crowd in Tokyo he said: "We are a responsible party. Please give the LDP power. Do we move ahead with reform or do we go backward? We will surely push ahead." |
| The leader of the opposition Democratic Party (DPJ), Ichiro Ozawa, told his supporters that a win for Mr Abe's party would mean the end of democracy in Japan. | The leader of the opposition Democratic Party (DPJ), Ichiro Ozawa, told his supporters that a win for Mr Abe's party would mean the end of democracy in Japan. |
| "The upper house election is a big opportunity, and we cannot let this last chance go to waste. | "The upper house election is a big opportunity, and we cannot let this last chance go to waste. |
| "In this upper house election, if we do not get the majority of seats and the citizens let Abe continue his governance, this country will never see democracy again," he said. | "In this upper house election, if we do not get the majority of seats and the citizens let Abe continue his governance, this country will never see democracy again," he said. |
| Mr Ozawa has said that if the DPJ, together with other minor opposition parties, fails to secure an upper house majority, he will resign. | Mr Ozawa has said that if the DPJ, together with other minor opposition parties, fails to secure an upper house majority, he will resign. |