Left-wing gets to govern Japan for the first time ever

[Edric O]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8229744.stm

The Liberal Democratic Party of Japan - in power since 1955 with an interruption of only 11 months - has been crushed in this week's elections. The LDP represents the mainstream right-wing, or the conservative establishment, and for most of the time since WW2 it ruled with such unchallenged power that Japan looked less like a democracy and more like a one-party state that tolerated freedom of speech.

Before the LDP era, Japan was governed by the American occupation forces and conservative elites. Before that, it was governed by conservative elites and the Emperor. Before that, it was governed by the Shogunate. Before that... well, you get the point. Japan has never had a non-conservative government.

Until now.

The winner of this election, the Democratic Party of Japan, is a 10 year old coalition of various mildly left-wing forces and centrists opposed to the LDP. Needless to say, they are completely inexperienced. In most Western countries it would not be unusual at all for a party like them to win an election. But in Japan, some people are calling it a "revolution".

[Edric O]

Also, before the election there was talk of a surge in support for the Japanese Communist Party. That does not seem to have materialized - it looks like the JCP will maintain the same number of parliamentary seats it had before (9). Maybe the potential new JCP voters decided to go with the DPJ instead because it was the strategic choice for ousting the LDP from power.

[Sneakgab]

Well, it may be a relatively big change, but calling it a ''revolution'' is probably getting a bit too excited. Maybe, the beginning of a revolution in a sense. People are apparently finally considering a different party (I take it that Japan was never a dictatorship but the party simply won each election, much like the ANC in SA since the first democratic election allowing non-whites (not sure about female suffrage before then. White females could probably vote) to vote.

''Also, before the election there was talk of a surge in support for the Japanese Communist Party. That does not seem to have materialized - it looks like the JCP will maintain the same number of parliamentary seats it had before (9). Maybe the potential new JCP voters decided to go with the DPJ instead because it was the strategic choice for ousting the LDP from power.''

The JCP did mananage to shift from whatever position they were to 3rd place (ie: 3rd most dominant party), putting the Buddhist party from 3rd to 4th. They also experience quite an influx of members (14000 over the last 8 months was it?) recently. I guess in as stable a political situation as Japan this may be relatively dramatic.

Support for them may have grown less than some might have expected, because they are not a genuine Communist party (or have become less genuine).

This is what I heard of them:

''The party leaders, such as former party Chairman, Fuwa Tetsuzo, are talking about

[vota dc]

JPD don't seem inspired on the american Democratic Party.In a TV service (well italian TV is strictly controlled by the government so I don't know how much can be true) they said that JPD is inspired by.....the Daisy.And they are in the same alliance http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alliance_of_Democrats

That can be very dangerous for the left because the Daisy are bigots and even if in lower number respect the communists they managed to impose their politics and they managed to convert a lot of them at the point that in Italy center-left is less socialist than center-right (where the ex socialist and the ex fascist are still socialist in economy).

Suppose the JPD is like the Daisy...well with they numbers they will eat/convert the communists in no time.

[SandChigger]

Well, there you have it again: I leave the country on vacation and the whole fricking government changes again. :D

Haven't bothered looking to see who my new Ultra-Boss at the Min. of Ed. is now; doesn't really affect me, anyway.

(Japanese Communist Party? Snicker. They've put up little posters here and there saying something like "The Japan Communist Party - NOW more than ever!" :D How about "Never EVER ever!"? DREAM on, little red revvies! ;) )

[Tehpevis]

The Democratic Party of Japan is only progressive when compared to Japan's previous regimes. In my own opinion, I find it pitiful people see them as actually being Leftist.

[SandChigger]

So far, it the same ole same ole. :)

[Tatar Khan]

So far, it the same ole same ole. :)

It seems the most radical changes would be small due to new party. The legacy of the old government will cause restrictions to reforms they can make, plus the econ situation is bad.

Japan's new government

In that dawn

Oct 22nd 2009 | TOKYO

From The Economist print edition

The DPJ

[TMA_1]

Whoa, no way, a new party in power? I had no idea this has been abrewin in Japan.

[SandChigger]

Again, same ole same ole.

The LDP are adapting well to the new situation and demonstrating what asses they truly are. :)