Japan's general election official campaign starts
Tokyo, December 2, AZERTAC
The 12-day campaign for Japan's December 14 Lower House election officially kicked off Tuesday, with asking nation's 100 million voters to pass judgment on Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's economic policies and efforts of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) after two years in power.
As of 1 p.m. (0400 GMT), a total of 1,187 persons filed their candidacy for the 475 seats at stake -- 295 from single-seat constituencies and 180 through proportional representation.
Election administration committees nationwide will accept registrations until 5 p.m. Abe dissolved the Lower House last month for a snap election to seek the public support to his economic policy dubbed "Abenomics" and the decision to delay a planned sales tax hike to 10 percent by 18 months. The 60-year-old Abe, who took office two years ago, has promoted growth strategies, but the world's third-largest economy contracted for two quarters in a row since the April sales tax hike, from five percent to the current eight percent. The second increase was originally set for October 2015. Other key issues include Abe's plan to restart nuclear power and to expand the role of the Self-Defense Forces.
It is the first parliamentary election for the Lower House since December 2012, when the LDP snatched power away from the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) in the 480-seat chamber.
Various opinion polls published by local media suggest that the LDP is expected to lead the race among 10 parties, with the LDP-led governing coalition likely to secure a comfortable majority.
Abe has said he will step down if the LDP-led governing coalition fails to secure a majority, or 238 seats, because that would mean their economic policies are rejected.
"This election is a test for Abenomics. We promise to make the Japanese economy strong once again, and let this region and Japan shine in the center of the world," Abe, who is also LDP president, told a crowd in nuclear crisis-hit Fukushima Prefecture. "It is still halfway, but we will firmly accelerate reconstruction progress," Abe added.
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