Japanese general election, 1986

The Shūgiin - election in 1986 was the 38th election to Shūgiin, the Japanese House of Commons, and took place on 6 July 1986. Same time, the choice Sangiin was conducted in 1986.

Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone had the Shūgiin on 2 June 1986, 18 months before the end of the legislature dissolved, so the choice coincided with the Sangiin choice. He hoped the face of high personal approval ratings, a clear absolute majority for his Liberal Democratic Party ( LDP) to recover and not be longer rely on the coalition with the New Liberal Club. Main issues in the election campaign were the economic development in the context of rising unemployment, growing state debt and the first negative quarterly development of the Japanese economy in more than a decade as well as the security policy. Prime Minister Nakasone, who sat close cooperation with the United States, spoke in favor of a further increase in the defense budget and moderate reforms to market opening and deregulation. The main opposition party, the Socialist Party of Japan under Ishibashi Masaru, turned out as well as the communists against the expansion of the self-defense forces and demanded an expansion of social benefits.

The turnout was 71.4 %. After a reform constituency in May 1986 eight constituencies were enlarged, seven were reduced; the total number of MPs increased by one to 512

(* ) Until the date of the first meeting, seven other independent groups joined.

Effects

At high turnout, the LDP won a clear majority in Shūgiin. Prime Minister Nakasone was confirmed on 22 July in Parliament, his third cabinet was again a pure LDP Cabinet and no longer rely on the support of the New Liberal Club. The clear election victory strengthened him against his intra-party rivals, who had pushed for his replacement. The strongest faction, the Tanaka faction was given the post of Deputy Prime Minister. On 11 September 1986 Nakasone's tenure as party leader / Prime Minister was extended from the LDP lawmakers from both houses for a further year.

Loss of votes affecting mainly the SPJ. The party chairman Ishibashi resigned after the elections and was replaced by Takako Doi. The moderate DSP also suffered heavy losses, including Secretary General Ouchi had lost his seat.