JAPAN: parliamentary elections Shugiin, 1993

JAPAN
Parliamentary Chamber: Shugiin

ELECTIONS HELD IN 1993

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Chamber:

Shugiin

Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):

18 July 1993

Purpose of elections:

Elections were held for all the seats in the House of Representatives following premature dissolution of this body on 18 June 1993. General elections for Representatives had previously taken place in February 1990.

Background and outcome of elections:

On 18 June 1993, the House of Representatives was dissolved some eight months before the normal expiry of its term following a vote of no confidence in the Government of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa. The vote had been tabled by the left-wing Social Democratic Party of Japan (SDPJ - formerly the Socialist Party of Japan) and two smaller opposition parties which had been formed by LDP defectors. The July polling date was then promptly announced.
The election campaign formally began on 4 July with 955 candidates (including a record 70 women) vying for 511 Representatives’ seats. The central issue for debate was political reform – the same question which had led to the no confidence motion – in order to curtail the corruption which had plagued the LDP and other parties in a series of financial scandals. The ruling party countered by stressing its experience in running the country uninterruptedly for 38 years.
The low (67%) turnout on polling day reflected the voters’ general disillusionment with the political process. Final results stripped the conservative LDP of its absolute House majority, with the prime beneficiaries of this protest vote being the three new centre-right parties formed by the LDP rebels – Shinseito (Renewal Party), Japan New Party (JNP) and Sakigake (New Initiative Party) – which had championed reform, clean government and a better deal for consumers. The main opposition, but internally divided, SDPJ, on the other hand, failed to capitalise on this turn of events and suffered its own severe defeat as the electorate generally rejected the political status quo. Given this outcome, the LDP was ousted from power for the first time since 1955 and replaced by a seven-party coalition which spanned the ideological spectrum of the other groups (except the Japanese Communist Party) gaining Representatives’ seats.
On 9 August, Mr. Morihiro Hosokawa, leader of JNP, became Prime Minister at the head of a Cabinet sworn in the same day. Owing to post-election realignments and the support of independents, the alliance succeeded in controlling an absolute majority of House seats.

STATISTICS

Round no 1 (18 July 1993): Elections results

Number of registered electors 94,866,020

Voters 63,547,819 (66.98%)

Blank or invalid ballot papers 743,674

Valid votes 62,804,145

Round no 1: Distribution of votes

Political Group Candidates Votes %

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 285 22,999,646 36.62

Social Democratic Party of Japan (SDPJ) 142 9,687,588 15.43

Shinseito 69 6,341,364 10.10

Komeito 54 5,114,351 8.14

Japan New Party (JNP) 57 5,053,981 8.05

Japan Democratic Socialist Party (DSP) 28 2,205,682 3.51

Japanese Communist Party (JCP) 129 4,834,587 7.70

Sakigake 16 1,658,097 2.64

United Socialist Democratic Party 4 461,169 0.73

Independents 109 4,304,188 6.85

Round no 1: Distribution of seats

Political Group Total Gain/Loss

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 223 -52

Social Democratic Party of Japan (SDPJ) 70 -66

Shinseito 55 +55

Komeito 51 +6

Japan New Party (JNP) 35 +35

Japan Democratic Socialist Party (DSP) 15 +1

Japanese Communist Party (JCP) 15 -1

Sakigake 13 +13

United Socialist Democratic Party 4 =

Independents 30 +9

Comments:

One seat less than previous elections.
Plus 15 vacancies.

Distribution of seats according to sex:

Men: 497

Women: 14

Distribution of seats according to age:

25-29 years 5

30-34 years 15

35-39 years 32

40-44 years 50

45-49 years 84

50-54 years 80

55-59 years 78

60-64 years 67

65-69 years 65

70 years and over 35

Distribution of seats according to profession:

Executives and staff members of associations or organisations 154

Officers and secretariat members of political parties 144

Members of executive boards of corporations, etc. 72

Lawyers 32

Agriculture, forestry and fisheries 16

Education 16

Ministers and Parliamentary Vice-Ministers, etc. 13

Doctors 5

Writers 5

Others 13

No other profession 41

<<< Return to the Historical Archive page of parliamentary election results for JAPAN <<<

Chamber:
	Shugiin
Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):
	18 July 1993
Purpose of elections:
	Elections were held for all the seats in the House of Representatives following premature dissolution of this body on 18 June 1993. General elections for Representatives had previously taken place in February 1990.
Background and outcome of elections:
	On 18 June 1993, the House of Representatives was dissolved some eight months before the normal expiry of its term following a vote of no confidence in the Government of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa. The vote had been tabled by the left-wing Social Democratic Party of Japan (SDPJ - formerly the Socialist Party of Japan) and two smaller opposition parties which had been formed by LDP defectors. The July polling date was then promptly announced. The election campaign formally began on 4 July with 955 candidates (including a record 70 women) vying for 511 Representatives’ seats. The central issue for debate was political reform – the same question which had led to the no confidence motion – in order to curtail the corruption which had plagued the LDP and other parties in a series of financial scandals. The ruling party countered by stressing its experience in running the country uninterruptedly for 38 years. The low (67%) turnout on polling day reflected the voters’ general disillusionment with the political process. Final results stripped the conservative LDP of its absolute House majority, with the prime beneficiaries of this protest vote being the three new centre-right parties formed by the LDP rebels – Shinseito (Renewal Party), Japan New Party (JNP) and Sakigake (New Initiative Party) – which had championed reform, clean government and a better deal for consumers. The main opposition, but internally divided, SDPJ, on the other hand, failed to capitalise on this turn of events and suffered its own severe defeat as the electorate generally rejected the political status quo. Given this outcome, the LDP was ousted from power for the first time since 1955 and replaced by a seven-party coalition which spanned the ideological spectrum of the other groups (except the Japanese Communist Party) gaining Representatives’ seats. On 9 August, Mr. Morihiro Hosokawa, leader of JNP, became Prime Minister at the head of a Cabinet sworn in the same day. Owing to post-election realignments and the support of independents, the alliance succeeded in controlling an absolute majority of House seats.

Round no 1 (18 July 1993): Elections results
Number of registered electors	94,866,020
Voters	63,547,819 (66.98%)
Blank or invalid ballot papers	743,674
Valid votes	62,804,145

Round no 1: Distribution of votes
Political Group	Candidates	Votes	%
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)	285	22,999,646	36.62
Social Democratic Party of Japan (SDPJ)	142	9,687,588	15.43
Shinseito	69	6,341,364	10.10
Komeito	54	5,114,351	8.14
Japan New Party (JNP)	57	5,053,981	8.05
Japan Democratic Socialist Party (DSP)	28	2,205,682	3.51
Japanese Communist Party (JCP)	129	4,834,587	7.70
Sakigake	16	1,658,097	2.64
United Socialist Democratic Party	4	461,169	0.73
Independents	109	4,304,188	6.85

Round no 1: Distribution of seats
Political Group	Total	Gain/Loss
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)	223	-52
Social Democratic Party of Japan (SDPJ)	70	-66
Shinseito	55	+55
Komeito	51	+6
Japan New Party (JNP)	35	+35
Japan Democratic Socialist Party (DSP)	15	+1
Japanese Communist Party (JCP)	15	-1
Sakigake	13	+13
United Socialist Democratic Party	4	=
Independents	30	+9

Comments:
	One seat less than previous elections. Plus 15 vacancies.

Distribution of seats according to age:
25-29 years	5
30-34 years	15
35-39 years	32
40-44 years	50
45-49 years	84
50-54 years	80
55-59 years	78
60-64 years	67
65-69 years	65
70 years and over	35
Distribution of seats according to profession:
Executives and staff members of associations or organisations	154
Officers and secretariat members of political parties	144
Members of executive boards of corporations, etc.	72
Lawyers	32
Agriculture, forestry and fisheries	16
Education	16
Ministers and Parliamentary Vice-Ministers, etc.	13
Doctors	5
Writers	5
Others	13
No other profession	41