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Japan's PM faces electoral test Japan's PM set for electoral blow
(about 2 hours later)
Japanese voters have been taking part in elections for the upper house of parliament that could see Prime Minister Shinzo Abe forced from office. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's conservative ruling coalition looks set to lose its majority in the upper house of parliament, exit polls suggest.
As voting ending, TV exit polls suggested a heavy loss for Mr Abe's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). But Mr Abe said he had no intention of resigning, Japanese TV reports.
The party has been hit by a series of ministerial gaffes and scandals since Mr Abe took office in September. Projections suggest this is the first time in more than 50 years that the Liberal Democratic Party has failed to win the most seats in the chamber.
Although the election will not directly affect Mr Abe, correspondents say a bad result could force him to resign. The LDP has been hit by a series of ministerial gaffes and scandals since Mr Abe took office in September.
I don't think other parties are great and I don't think the opposition could change things at all Nobuyuki Ietaka, voter Q&A: Upper house pollI don't think other parties are great and I don't think the opposition could change things at all Nobuyuki Ietaka, voter Q&A: Upper house poll
Half of the 242 seats in the House of Councillors were being contested. Polls closed at 2000 (1100 GMT) and the results were expected within hours. "If projections are correct, we are looking at utter defeat," Hidenao Nakagawa, the LDP's secretary general told reporters, adding that he wanted Mr Abe to stay.
Half of the 242 seats in the House of Councillors were being contested.
The LDP-led ruling coalition currently controls 132 seats. It needs to win 64 of the 121 seats that are up for grabs in order to retain its majority.The LDP-led ruling coalition currently controls 132 seats. It needs to win 64 of the 121 seats that are up for grabs in order to retain its majority.
The most significant factor in Mr Abe's falling popularity has been a nationwide pensions debacle, with a government agency admitting it has lost records relating to millions of payments. But Japanese TV reports suggest the LDP has fallen far short of its target, winning between 31 and 43 seats out of the 76 it was defending.
Pensions are a key issue in Japan's greying society and, although the mistake was not made under Mr Abe's leadership, many voters have started to question his skills in the job. The BBC's Chris Hogg in Tokyo says the opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) is on course to become the largest party in the upper house.
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". It would mean a DPJ lawmaker would become president of the chamber and control its legislative agenda, making it more difficult for Mr Abe's administration to get the laws it wants to pass through parliament.
'Not a referendum''Not a referendum'
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 was voting 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.However, Nobuyuki Ietaka, a 48-year-old computer company salesman, said he was voting 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.
HAVE YOUR SAY This election outcome, like other recent elections, will see little change in policy Y Shimada, Japan Send your comments Mr Abe, 52, became prime minister following popular leader Junichiro Koizumi's decision to step down last year. HAVE YOUR SAY This election outcome, like other recent elections, will see little change in policy Y Shimada, Japan Send your comments
The most significant factor in Mr Abe's falling popularity 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 Mr Abe's leadership, many voters have started to question his skills in the job.
Mr Abe, 52, became prime minister following popular leader Junichiro Koizumi's decision to step down last year.
His ruling coalition has a sizeable majority in the more powerful lower house - which chooses the prime minister. But some analysts say the prime minister may feel he has to take responsibility for a poor result in the upper house election and step down.His ruling coalition has a sizeable majority in the more powerful lower house - which chooses the prime minister. But some analysts say the prime minister may feel he has to take responsibility for a poor result in the upper house election and step down.
However, several top LDP lawmakers backed Mr Abe in his final campaign days, emphasising that this election was not a referendum on his leadership.However, several top LDP lawmakers backed Mr Abe in his final campaign days, emphasising that this election was not a referendum on his leadership.