2007 Japanese House of Councillors election

2007 Japanese House of Councillors election

← 2004 July 29, 2007 2010 →

121 of the 242 seats in the House of Councillors
122 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party
 
Leader Ichirō Ozawa Shinzō Abe
Party Democratic Liberal Democratic
Leader since 7 April 2006 20 September 2006
Last election 82 seats, 37.8% 115 seats, 30.0%
Seats after 109 83
Seat change Increase27 Decrease32
Popular vote 23,256,247 16,544,671
Percentage 39.5% 28.1%
Swing Increase1.7pp Decrease1.9pp

  Third party Fourth party
 
Leader Akihiro Ota Kazuo Shii
Party Komeito Communist
Leader since 30 September 2006 24 November 2000
Last election 24 seats, 15.4% 9 seats, 7.8%
Seats after 20 7
Seat change Decrease4 Decrease2
Popular vote 7,765,329 4,407,932
Percentage 13.2% 7.5%
Swing Decrease3.2pp

Constituency and proportional representation (bottom right) election result

President of the House of Councillors before election

Chikage Oogi
Liberal Democratic

Elected President of the House of Councillors

Satsuki Eda
Democratic

House of Councillors elections were held in Japan on July 29, 2007.[1][2] The date was originally to be July 22, but the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) decided in mid-June to extend the session of the House for a week to finish up legislative business; this step was criticised due to the short-term delay.[3]

The House of Councillors consists of 242 members who serve six-year terms. Approximately half the members are elected every three years. The previous elections took place in 2004 when Junichiro Koizumi, Abe's predecessor, was in office.

The house ended its 166th session on July 5, 2007, marking the unofficial beginning of campaign. The official campaign began on July 12.[4]

The ruling coalition of Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito lost control, creating the first divided Diet (opposition control of the House of Councillors) since 1999. The LDP became the second party for the first time, while the DPJ became first party for the first time.

  1. ^ "Japan News Review - Upper House election campaigning sees official kick off". Archived from the original on 2007-10-14. Retrieved 2007-07-12.
  2. ^ Abe has high hopes for Diet session | The Japan Times Online
  3. ^ "The Asahi Shimbun".
  4. ^ http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20070713TDY01004.htm [dead link]