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Japan chooses upper house leader Japan chooses upper house leader
(41 minutes later)
A member of the opposition Democratic Party has been elected president of the upper house of Japan's parliament. Japan's upper house of parliament has elected a member of the opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) as its president.
Satsuka Eda won a unanimous vote, 10 days after the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)-led ruling coalition lost elections to the upper house. Satsuki Eda won a unanimous vote, 10 days after the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)-led ruling coalition suffered a crushing defeat in upper house polls.
It is the first time the upper house has ever been led by a politician from an opposition party.It is the first time the upper house has ever been led by a politician from an opposition party.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe resisted calls to resign after the LDP defeat, but his agricultural minister did go. Since the polls, PM Shinzo Abe has resisted calls for his resignation.
Norihiko Akagi, who had been accused of financial irregularities was one of a number of Mr Abe's ministers who have been hit by scandal, an issue seen as a key factor in his party's poll defeat. He has, however, pledged a Cabinet reshuffle, which is expected to take place later this month.
'New situation'
Mr Abe's coalition suffered a severe defeat in upper house polls
In the elections on 29 July, the ruling coalition lost its upper house majority. The opposition DPJ made huge gains, becoming the largest party in the house for the first time in its history.
Mr Eda, 66, is a veteran DPJ lawmaker. He told the chamber that Japan's political landscape had changed.
"The make-up of the upper house has drastically changed after the upper house elections and we are facing a political situation we have never faced before," he said.
"I think voters' expectations for the upper house are now extremely high," he said.
Some analysts have predicted political deadlock. The ruling coalition still controls the more powerful lower house, but the opposition could now block bills in the upper house.