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Japan heads to polls with Abe on course to retain power

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Japan was voting Sunday in a snap general election which Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has billed as a referendum on his economic policies after the success of his first two years faded and the country slumped into recession.

The premier is seeking public blessing for "Abenomics" -- his signature plan to fix the the country's flaccid economy -- with observers expecting that an underwhelming and underprepared opposition will be routed.

Opinion polls predict his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior partner Komeito will sweep the ballot, probably with an unassailable two-thirds majority which would give them the power to override the upper house.

"I have been pushing for Abenomics, the policies designed to create jobs and raise salaries," Abe told hundreds of voters in Tokyo's neon-lit Akihabara electronics district on the eve of the election.

Japanese Prime Minister and ruling Liberal Democratic Party leader Shinzo Abe (C) and party members ...
Japanese Prime Minister and ruling Liberal Democratic Party leader Shinzo Abe (C) and party members gesture during election campaigning in Tokyo on December 13, 2014
Kazuhiro Nogi, AFP

"Japan can be much richer," Abe said, sporting a knee-length white windbreaker emblazoned with his campaign slogan: "This is the only way".

Abe, 60, was only halfway through his four-year term when he called the vote last month.

The first two of his "three arrows" of Abenomics -- monetary easing and fiscal stimulus -- have largely hit their targets; the once-painfully high yen has plunged, sending stocks higher.

And prices have begun rising after years of standing still -- proof, says Abe, that this is the beginning of a virtuous circle of economic growth, with higher wages soon to follow.

However a sales tax rise in April snuffed out consumer spending, sending Japan into the two negative quarters of growth that make a recession.

- Third arrow -

Economists say more important than the temporary highs offered by easy money and government spending is structural reform of Japan's highly-regulated and protected economy -- the third arrow of Abenomics.

Japan's main opposition Democratic Party of Japan leader Banri Kaieda delivers a speech during ...
Japan's main opposition Democratic Party of Japan leader Banri Kaieda delivers a speech during an election campaign in Tokyo on December 13, 2014
Kazuhiro Nogi, AFP

Critics say Abe has not been bold enough in taking on the vested interests that are the real key to reversing nearly two decades of economic underperformance.

A four-year mandate from the electorate may embolden the prime minister's hand and see off opposition from within a vast and ill-disciplined LDP, too often given to bouts of regicide.

But heavy snow across swathes of Japan on Sunday looked set to further dampen enthusiasm among already-uninspired voters, raising fears of a record low turnout.

"I have no expectations from politics," Kanji Takahashi, a 72-year-old fish market worker, said after casting his ballot at a Tokyo polling station.

A boy watches as his father casts a vote in Japan's general election at a polling station in To...
A boy watches as his father casts a vote in Japan's general election at a polling station in Tokyo on December 14, 2014
Yoshikazu Tsuno, AFP

"Politicians are always saying only good things but my life is not improving," he said. "I came here only because I wanted to do my duty as a citizen."

Miyuki Wada, a 63-year-old female restaurant owner, said: "I could not find any attractive candidates, but I suppose I had to vote."

As of 4:00 pm (0700 GMT), voter turnout stood at 29.11 percent, down 5.76 points from the 2012 election. But early voting -- which was completed by Saturday -- was up 9.25 percent from the previous poll, according to the government.

A total of 1,191 candidates from nine major parties are vying for 475 seats.

Polls close at 8:00 pm (1100 GMT), with broadcasters' exit polls expected soon afterwards.

Japan was voting Sunday in a snap general election which Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has billed as a referendum on his economic policies after the success of his first two years faded and the country slumped into recession.

The premier is seeking public blessing for “Abenomics” — his signature plan to fix the the country’s flaccid economy — with observers expecting that an underwhelming and underprepared opposition will be routed.

Opinion polls predict his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior partner Komeito will sweep the ballot, probably with an unassailable two-thirds majority which would give them the power to override the upper house.

“I have been pushing for Abenomics, the policies designed to create jobs and raise salaries,” Abe told hundreds of voters in Tokyo’s neon-lit Akihabara electronics district on the eve of the election.

Japanese Prime Minister and ruling Liberal Democratic Party leader Shinzo Abe (C) and party members ...

Japanese Prime Minister and ruling Liberal Democratic Party leader Shinzo Abe (C) and party members gesture during election campaigning in Tokyo on December 13, 2014
Kazuhiro Nogi, AFP

“Japan can be much richer,” Abe said, sporting a knee-length white windbreaker emblazoned with his campaign slogan: “This is the only way”.

Abe, 60, was only halfway through his four-year term when he called the vote last month.

The first two of his “three arrows” of Abenomics — monetary easing and fiscal stimulus — have largely hit their targets; the once-painfully high yen has plunged, sending stocks higher.

And prices have begun rising after years of standing still — proof, says Abe, that this is the beginning of a virtuous circle of economic growth, with higher wages soon to follow.

However a sales tax rise in April snuffed out consumer spending, sending Japan into the two negative quarters of growth that make a recession.

– Third arrow –

Economists say more important than the temporary highs offered by easy money and government spending is structural reform of Japan’s highly-regulated and protected economy — the third arrow of Abenomics.

Japan's main opposition Democratic Party of Japan leader Banri Kaieda delivers a speech during ...

Japan's main opposition Democratic Party of Japan leader Banri Kaieda delivers a speech during an election campaign in Tokyo on December 13, 2014
Kazuhiro Nogi, AFP

Critics say Abe has not been bold enough in taking on the vested interests that are the real key to reversing nearly two decades of economic underperformance.

A four-year mandate from the electorate may embolden the prime minister’s hand and see off opposition from within a vast and ill-disciplined LDP, too often given to bouts of regicide.

But heavy snow across swathes of Japan on Sunday looked set to further dampen enthusiasm among already-uninspired voters, raising fears of a record low turnout.

“I have no expectations from politics,” Kanji Takahashi, a 72-year-old fish market worker, said after casting his ballot at a Tokyo polling station.

A boy watches as his father casts a vote in Japan's general election at a polling station in To...

A boy watches as his father casts a vote in Japan's general election at a polling station in Tokyo on December 14, 2014
Yoshikazu Tsuno, AFP

“Politicians are always saying only good things but my life is not improving,” he said. “I came here only because I wanted to do my duty as a citizen.”

Miyuki Wada, a 63-year-old female restaurant owner, said: “I could not find any attractive candidates, but I suppose I had to vote.”

As of 4:00 pm (0700 GMT), voter turnout stood at 29.11 percent, down 5.76 points from the 2012 election. But early voting — which was completed by Saturday — was up 9.25 percent from the previous poll, according to the government.

A total of 1,191 candidates from nine major parties are vying for 475 seats.

Polls close at 8:00 pm (1100 GMT), with broadcasters’ exit polls expected soon afterwards.

AFP
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With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.

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