Japan PM says upper house polls win will help form stable cabinet

PanARMENIAN.Net - Japanese PM Shinzo Abe says his win in upper house elections Sunday, July 21, will help him form a stable cabinet, ending political volatility, according to BBC News.

Exit polls suggest his ruling coalition won at least 76 of the 121 seats contested, broadcaster NHK says.

This would give Abe control of both houses of parliament - a first for a prime minister in six years. Abe said the result was an endorsement of his more conservative economic and political reforms.

"We have received overwhelming support from the people for our policies of improving the economy, and solid and stable politics," Abe told reporters after Sunday's vote.

The deadlock in parliament has been seen as a key factor in Japan's recent "revolving door" of prime ministers.

Half of the seats in the upper house were being contested in Sunday's election.

Official results are not expected until later on Monday, but exit polls suggest Abe's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior partner New Komeito will now control 135 seats in the 242-seat upper house, NHK reports, giving the coalition a comfortable majority.

The main opposition party, the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), was expected to win 17 seats, in its worst showing in 15 years, NHK said.

Japan's upper chamber, while not as powerful as the lower house, is able to block legislation introduced by the government.

In recent years opposition parties have had enough combined seats to control the chamber, leading to what has become known as a "twisted parliament".

This has resulted in factionalism and multiple changes of prime minister - Japan has had six in the last six years.