IPU Logo    INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION
>>> VERSION FRANÇAISE  
   HOME -> PARLINE -> JAPAN (Shugiin)
Print this pagePrint this page
PARLINE database new searchNew search
JAPAN
Shugiin (House of Representatives)
ELECTIONS IN 2012

Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Last elections module

A historical Archive of past election results for this chamber can be found on a separate page

Parliament name (generic / translated) Kokkai / National Diet
Structure of parliament Bicameral
Chamber name (generic / translated) Shugiin / House of Representatives
Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Sangiin / House of Councillors
BACKGROUND
Dates of election / renewal (from/to) 16 December 2012
Purpose of elections The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), led by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, won a resounding victory, taking 294 of the 480 seats at stake, thereby regaining power after three years in opposition. Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) saw its share of seats collapse from 308 to 57. Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) - a new party co-led by the former Mayors of Tokyo and Osaka - Mr. Shintaro Ishihara and Mr. Toru Hashimoto - came in third, taking 54. LDP's coalition partner New Komeito followed with 31 seats. On 26 December, Mr. Abe was elected Prime Minister.

The 2012 elections were the first to be held after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that had hit the northern part of Japan and triggered a nuclear accident in Fukushima. During the election campaign, the LDP pledged to revive the economy and pull Japan out of deflation, while maintaining nuclear energy. The DPJ pledged to work towards closing all nuclear reactors by the 2030s.

A record 1,504 candidates from 12 parties stood for election; the highest number since the introduction of single-member constituencies in 1996. The elections nevertheless saw the lowest turnout (59.32%) since World War II.
Date of previous elections: 30 August 2009

Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 16 November 2012

Timing of election: Early elections

Expected date of next elections: December 2016

Number of seats at stake: 480 (full renewal)

Number of candidates: 1,504 (1,279 men, 225 women)*
*The total number of candidates excluding double-candidacy (candidates who ran under both the majority and proportional representation systems)

Percentage of women candidates: 17.6%*
(*193 of 1,101, or 17.5% under the majority system and 144 of 1,117, or 12.9% under the proportional representation system)

Number of parties contesting the election: 12

Number of parties winning seats: 10

Alternation of power: Yes

Number of parties in government: 2

Names of parties in government: Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito

Date of the first session of the new parliament: 26 December 2012

Name of the new Speaker: Mr. Bunmei Ibuki (Liberal Democratic Party)
STATISTICS
Voter turnout
Round no 116 December 2012
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes
103'959'866
61'669'473 (59.32%)

Notes
Distribution of seats
Round no 1
Political Group Total Majority Proportional
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 294 237 57
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) 57 27 30
Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) 54 14 40
New Komeito 31 9 22
Your Party (Minna no To) 18 4 14
Nippon Mirai no To (Tomorrow Party of Japan) 9 2 7
Japanese Communist Party (JCP) 8 0 8
Independents 5 5 0
Social Democratic Party (SDPJ) 2 1 1
Kokumin Shinto (People's New Party) 1 1 0
Shinto Daichi (New Party Mother Earth) 1 0 1
Distribution of seats according to sex
Men
Women
Percent of women
442
38
7.92%
Distribution of seats according to age
Distribution of seats according to profession
Comments
Sources:
http://www.shugiin.go.jp/index.nsf/html/index_e_strength.htm
http://www.asahi.com/
http://sankei.jp.msn.com

Copyright 1996-2013 Inter-Parliamentary Union