What happened in the 2009 election?
The 2009 election resulted in a landslide victory for the Democratic Party of Japan- 308 seats (DPJ) over the incumbent Liberal Democratic party (LDP) – 119 seats. For the first time an opposition party took over power as the result of an election. Great things were expected, not least the delivery of the manifesto promises: to introduce a generous child allowance (and thereby increase the birth rate), abolish motorway charges, provide new subsidies for farmers and radically reform the policy making process. After just over a year in power criticism is mounting about the new government’ s performance.
What are the main problems?
The 2009 election resulted in a landslide victory for the Democratic Party of Japan- 308 seats (DPJ) over the incumbent Liberal Democratic party (LDP) – 119 seats. For the first time an opposition party took over power as the result of an election. Great things were expected, not least the delivery of the manifesto promises: to introduce a generous child allowance (and thereby increase the birth rate), abolish motorway charges, provide new subsidies for farmers and radically reform the policy making process. After just over a year in power criticism is mounting about the new government’ s performance.
What about overseas?
Abroad the US government resisted all attempts by the DPJ to renegotiate previous agreements made about maintaining bases in Okinawa. The DPJ had promised to remove them entirely. Meanwhile China has become more assertive about its claim for sovereignty over the Senkaku islands in the south and President Medvedev last week visited the northern islands reinforcing Russia’ s possession of them in the face of Japan’ s claims. North Korea continues its unpredictable path towards leadership change. Although they may want to loosen the ties with the USA, the unreliable and indeed threatening neighbours gives the DPJ leadership little choice but to remain close.
What will happen now?
It is hard to argue that nothing has changed. A budget review process has provided the spectacle of open policy making as politicians eager to cut budgets pit their wits
against bureaucrats keen to protect their projects and jobs in televised sessions. However the government has seemed weak and unprincipled in its relations with its neighbours and has failed to innovate enough domestically to satisfy those who voted for it. Prime Minister Kan’ s only consolation is that although his popularity is in rapid decline, the LDP is benefiting little if at all. There does not need to be another election until summer 2013. If the PM and DPJ can weather the current criticisms and court case they should be able to claim some credit for the slow recovery of the economy that will begin next year. That may give it more scope for reform and chance to win back popular support.
