Japan's LDP sweeps back into power

　　After just three years in the political wilderness, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) swept back into power with a decisive victory over Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ).

　　The new government is expected to be led by 58-year-old LDP leader Shinzo Abe, who will be serving as prime minister for the second time.

　　The LDP and its junior partner New Komeito secured a two-thirds majority in an election yesterday for the 480-member Lower House of Parliament.

　　The LDP and the centrist Komeito had teamed up for 10 years in the past, until being ousted in the 2009 election.

　　As of press time, the LDP had 292 seats, the DPJ 56, Komeito 30 and the Japan Restoration Party 51, according to an estimate by Kyodo.

　　The LDP coalition's two-thirds majority allows the Lower House to approve even Bills rejected by the opposition-controlled Upper House.

　　The DPJ, which ousted the LDP in 2009, entered this election with 230 seats but is expected to retain no more than about 70.

　　Noda announced his intention to resign as party leader to take the blame for the rout.

　　Several incumbent and former ministers lost their single-seat fights, including Education Minister Makiko Tanaka.

　　Faced with a choice of 12 parties, many voters unhappy with the DPJ apparently picked the familiar LDP, despite its role in creating many of Japan's current problems, from a creaking state pension system to a huge national debt.

　　The large number of candidates also meant that the opposition vote was split in many constituencies - to the LDP's benefit.

　　Yesterday's election also saw the emergence of a "third force" in the Japan Restoration Party, which won 51 seats, despite suggestions that it had lost its lustre towards the end of the election campaign due to squabbling between its two co-leaders and its flip-flopping on policies.

　　Parliament is due to convene on December 26 to elect a new prime minister.

　　The new government is expected to take a more hardline stance against China over a simmering territorial row, at the risk of further worsening ties with Beijing.

　　Abe has also hinted at exerting greater pressure on the country's central bank to work more closely with the government on measures to lift the economy.

　　These include setting an inflation target to get Japan out of the deflationary spiral, which is shrinking corporate profits and holding back economic recovery.

　　Although most Japanese want to end their dependence on nuclear energy after the Fukushima disaster, the LDP advocates the continued use of nuclear power, though it has promised to find the best energy mix for the country within 10 years.

　　Abe's choice of ministers will be closely watched as well.

　　When he was prime minister before, he was criticised for picking close aides or associates for his Cabinet. He will also be careful not to repeat the mistakes of his first term, which was noted for a series of scandals involving his ministers.

　　His term was also cut short with his ignominious departure due to a chronic bowel ailment and failure to take the blame for his party's defeat in the 2007 Upper House polls.

　　A major problem will be where Abe places LDP secretary-general Shigeru Ishiba, who is more popular than Abe among the party's rank and file.

　　Abe is said to be keen to pick a close aide as secretary-general to manage the party's campaign for the Upper House elections and give Ishiba a Cabinet post.