Japan's general election: end of one-party rule | 48 comments (48 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

Looks like a wipeout.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (pedobear@pennstatefootball.com) on Sun Aug 30th, 2009 at 10:42:00 AM EST
[ Parent ]

yes, but it's annoying that Sankei's projection (4.00 / 3)

i.e. the most politically conservative, is turning out to be the most accurate.

The West won the world not by the superiority of its ideas or values or religion, but rather by its superiority in applying organized violence.

by marco on Sun Aug 30th, 2009 at 11:28:42 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: yes (4.00 / 3)

I think the LDP's last-minute drive to appeal with their nationalistic base did help them a bit. "North Korea!", "DPJ hates our flag!", etc, etc.

I will become a patissier, God willing.

by tuasfait on Sun Aug 30th, 2009 at 12:26:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Can the DPJ still obtain 321+ seats (4.00 / 4)

i.e. 'a two-thirds majority, which would allow it to pass bills with no need for coalition partners in the upper house, and so guarantee its primacy for the next four years'?

And if so, could this be a bad thing, as the New York Times claims some in Japan are fretting?

There has even been concern here that the Democrats' margin of victory could be too big. Some in the media have said a landslide could let the Democrats simply replace the Liberal Democrats as a dominant party, instead of creating the competitive two-party democracy that many had hoped would emerge from this election.

Would the people, not the bureaucrats and politicians, 'in Japan's consensus-driven political culture', desiring change and fed up with the LDP, 'abhor' the 'heavy-handed tactics' of a totally dominant DPJ?

The West won the world not by the superiority of its ideas or values or religion, but rather by its superiority in applying organized violence.

by marco on Sun Aug 30th, 2009 at 12:47:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Can the DPJ still obtain 321+ seats (4.00 / 3)

Make that "the presumed 'heavy-handed tactics' of a ~~totally~~ dominant DPJ?"

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Sun Aug 30th, 2009 at 03:36:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Can the DPJ still obtain 321+ seats (4.00 / 2)

The final count is:
DPJ 308: LDP 119

I will become a patissier, God willing.

by tuasfait on Sun Aug 30th, 2009 at 08:51:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Can the DPJ still obtain 321+ seats (none / 1)

With 53 for small parties, DPJ missed two-thirds. On the other hand: are there any potential allies if they want to push through some change needing two-thirds?

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Mon Aug 31st, 2009 at 01:26:29 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Can the DPJ still obtain 321+ seats (4.00 / 3)

Yes, there are three minor allies.

Social Democrats (former Socialists); 7 seats,
New National Party (those kicked out of LDP for opposition to the postal service privatization); 3
New Japan; 1.

Anyway, with these allies, DPJ will have a majority in the uppoer House too.

I will become a patissier, God willing.

by tuasfait on Mon Aug 31st, 2009 at 02:55:46 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Can the DPJ still obtain 321+ seats (none / 1)

But for two-thirds, they'd need two Independents? Or maybe the Communists.

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Mon Aug 31st, 2009 at 03:31:34 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Can the DPJ still obtain 321+ seats (4.00 / 4)

For two-thirds, yes. Under our constitution, the two-thirds majority is relevant only in the case of (i) two Houses do not agree on a bill, or (ii) a party wants to propose an amendment to the Constitution. Budgets can be passed by a simple majority in the lower House.

With a simple majority in the lower House and a simple majority in the upper House (with these allies), DPJ can now push through its legislative agenda. As for (ii), I do not believe (and I am vehemently against) they will try to amend the constitution.

I will become a patissier, God willing.

by tuasfait on Mon Aug 31st, 2009 at 05:05:18 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Can the DPJ still obtain 321+ seats (4.00 / 2)

The frequency of constitutional amendments/changes varies greatly from country to country -- it appears from your reaction that in Japan, it's very rare and thus more similar to the USA than say Germany. As for reasons a left-wing party could have to change a constitution: (1) the incorporation of some human right, (2) the nullification of some outdated criminalisation, (3) changes in the election system. If no such thing is necessary and/or on the DPJ's agenda, that's good.

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Mon Aug 31st, 2009 at 07:01:17 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Can the DPJ still obtain 321+ seats (4.00 / 4)

We have Article 9 (Renunciation of War) which is still revolutionary, and I am proud of it. Constitutional amendment discussions in Japan often boil down on this Article

I will become a patissier, God willing.

by tuasfait on Mon Aug 31st, 2009 at 11:37:13 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Can the DPJ still obtain 321+ seats (none / 0)

Ah THAT's the context, then I get it.

I still don't get why American media commentators were afraid of a two-thirds DJP, however...

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Mon Aug 31st, 2009 at 11:59:01 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Can the DPJ still obtain 321+ seats (4.00 / 4)

Because whenever there's a swing to the left they feel compelled to concern-troll.

En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Aug 31st, 2009 at 12:05:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Japan's general election: end of one-party rule | 48 comments (48 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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