TOKYO, December 16 (RIA Novosti) - Japan’s conservative Liberal Democratic Party is on track to win a solid majority in the House of Representatives, the lower house of the National Diet, the NHK television network reported, citing exit polls.
The LDP looked likely to win between 275 and 310 seats in the 480-seat house in the voting that ended on Sunday.
That result would make LDP head Shinzo Abe prime minister, a post he held from September 2006 to September 2007.
Combined with its traditional coalition partner, the New Komeito party, the LDP could control up to 345 seats, enough to override decisions by the Diet’s upper house, the House of Councillors.
The ruling Democratic Party of Japan, which swept to power by winning 308 seats in August 2009 elections, appears headed for an equally crushing defeat this time, NHK said. The party is likely to win just 55-77 seats in the House of Representatives and could even be surpassed as the largest opposition party by the Japan Restoration Association led by Osaka Mayor Hashimoto Toru, which is on track to win about 50 seats, according to exit polling.
Abe has promised to revive Japan’s stagnant economy and to take a more assertive foreign policy stance, particularly in regard to China.
