Japanese general election, 2003

The Shūgiin - election in 2003 was the 43 election to Shūgiin, the Japanese House of Commons, and was held on 9 November 2003. Prime Minister Koizumi had Jun'ichirô - dissolved the Shūgiin on October 10 - after his re- election as LDP Chairman on 20 September 2003.

Electioneering

The election campaign was dominated by a polarization of the two major parties, the LDP and the DPJ, with its charismatic chairman Jun'ichirô Koizumi and Naoto Kan. The DPJ had concrete political demands for the first time in an election program (マニフェスト, Manifesuto, (yes ) ) formulated what has since been practiced by most parties. The DPJ presented for the first time in front of a shadow cabinet, as it originally was in countries with a common two-party system. In September 2003, the Members of the Liberal Party were joined by Ichirō Ozawa DPJ.

Wahlkampfhemen were reforms of social systems, especially the pension system, the continued poor economy, the growing crime rate, relations with North Korea and Japan's participation in the Iraq deployment of the United States. Main demand of the Left parties was to prevent in this context by some LDP politicians demanded change in the post-war pacifist constitution.

Participation and earnings

The turnout was 59.86 % for the direct election and 59.81 % in the proportional representation, making it the until then second lowest in the post-war history.

34 of the elected representatives were women, including 9 in the LDP and the DPJ at 15. Three of the six elected SDP MPs were men.

Regional summary

Effects

Although the LDP lost the absolute majority of seats in Shūgiin, but was mainly due to the strong support in the rural electorate by the constituency division has a higher weight, to maintain its position as the strongest party. Along with the coalition partners Kōmeitō and New Conservative Party Prime Minister Koizumi was able to govern. The DPJ consolidated its position as the strongest opposition party due to their large support in the urban areas ( Tokyo Prefecture: 12 of 25 direct mandates, Kinki: 20 of 48, Tōkai: 15 out of 33) and in Hokkaido (7 of 12). The former main opposition party, the SDP lost further ground and could only win a constituency in Okinawa for themselves. You had harmed, among other expressions of party leader Takako Doi North Korea. The JCP lost given the concentration on the two major parties votes and mandates. Both left-wing parties SDP and JCP remained well below the mark of twenty deputies; to introduce a bill, you need the support of at least 20 members in Shūgiin.

The New Conservative Party of Toshihiro Nikai negotiated after their election losses on joining the LDP. This was completed in November 2003, which the LDP again won an absolute majority in Shūgiin.