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| Japan's PM faces electoral test | Japan's PM faces electoral test |
| (about 4 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. | 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. |
| Tomohiro Nakamura, a 53-year-old bank employee in Tokyo, said he had voted for the opposition "because I have no other choice when LDP politics is in bad shape". | |
| However, Nobuyuki Ietaka, a 48-year-old computer company salesman, said he planned to vote for the ruling party. "I don't think other parties are great and I don't think the opposition could change things at all," he told the Associated Press. | |
| 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, with polls due to close at 2000 (1100 GMT). | Half of the 242 seats in Japan's House of Councillors, or upper house, are being contested, with polls due to close at 2000 (1100 GMT). |
| The first results are expected shortly after that. | The first results are expected shortly after that. |
| After a cool start to the day, hot weather is forecast which could reduce turnout as voters escape the heat and head for coastal or mountain resorts. | |
| It is high time that Japan abandons its self-absorbed politics and finds its global place in the world stage as a stabilizing force Dean Plasaras, United States class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=7001&&&edition=2&ttl=20070729064941">Have Your Say Mr Abe's LDP-led ruling coalition currently controls 132 seats. It needs to win 64 of the 121 seats that are up for election in order to retain its majority. | |
| The 52-year-old Mr Abe'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 the prime minister 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. |
| Mr Ozawa has seen his Democratic Party of Japan gain ground | Mr Ozawa has seen his Democratic Party of Japan gain ground |
| 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. |