2000 Japanese general election

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2000 Japanese general election

← 1996
25 June 2000
2003 →

All 480 seats in the House of Representatives
241 seats needed for a majority
Turnout62.49% (Increase2.84pp; Const. votes)
62.45% (Increase2.82pp; PR votes)
 First partySecond partyThird party
 
LeaderYoshirō MoriYukio HatoyamaTakenori Kanzaki
PartyLDPDemocraticKomeito
Last election239 seats52 seats[a]Did not exist
Seats before2719542
Seats won23312731
Seat changeDecrease 6Increase 75New
Constituency vote24,945,80716,811,7321,231,753
% and swing40.97% (Increase2.34pp)27.61% (Increase16.99pp)2.02% (New)
Regional vote16,943,42515,067,9907,762,032
% and swing28.31% (Decrease4.45pp)25.18% (Increase9.08pp)12.97% (New)

 Fourth partyFifth partySixth party
 
LeaderIchirō OzawaTetsuzo FuwaTakako Doi
PartyLiberalJCPSocial Democratic
Last electionDid not exist26 seats15 seats
Seats before182614
Seats won222019
Seat changeNewDecrease 6Increase 4
Constituency vote2,053,7367,352,8442,315,235
% and swing3.37% (New)12.08% (Decrease0.47pp)3.80% (Increase1.61pp)
Regional vote6,589,4906,719,0165,603,680
% and swing11.01% (New)11.23% (Decrease1.85pp)9.36% (Increase2.98pp)

Districts and PR districts, shaded according to winners' vote strength

Prime Minister before election

Yoshirō Mori
LDP

Elected Prime Minister

Yoshirō Mori
LDP

General elections were held in Japan on 25 June 2000 to elect the 480 members of the House of Representatives.

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) remained the largest party in the House of Representatives but lost seats, along with its two coalition partners. Two cabinet members, Takashi Fukaya and Tokuichiro Tamazawa, lost their seats. The Democratic Party made major gains under the leadership of Yukio Hatoyama.[1]

Background

[edit]

Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi suffered a stroke in April 2000 and was replaced by Yoshiro Mori. Although the term limit for the House of Representatives would have been reached in October 2000, Mori dissolved the House on June 2 in what became popularly known as the Divine Nation Dissolution (神の国解散) due to a controversial statement by Mori prior to the election, which preceded a slump in government approval ratings from 40% to 20%. The LDP government advocated continued public works spending while the opposition advocated less spending and more governmental reforms.[2]

The Social Democratic Party left the coalition in 1998 and re-join the opposition after years of coalition with the ideologically contrasting LDP.

Meanwhile, the Komeito Party, a centrist party with roots from the Soka Gakkai based on the Nichiren Buddhist movement and despite almost decades of opposition against the LDP, shifted from centre towards conservatism. An electoral alliance between the once rivals of the Komeito and the LDP has been in effect since the Japanese General election in 2000. For the LDP, despite not being able to win an absolute majority of votes by itself in further elections (especially for the House of Councillors which the LDP lost majority since 1989), the Komeito party has been counted on since then to ensure a stable governing majority rule.

Contesting parties

[edit]
PartyLeaderIdeologySeatsStatus
1993 electionAt dissolution
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Jiyū-Minshutō
Yoshirō MoriConservatism (Japanese)
Japanese nationalism
239 / 500
271 / 500
Government
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)
Minshutō
Yukio HatoyamaLiberalism
52 / 500
[b]
95 / 500
Opposition
Komeito
Kōmeitō
Takenori KanzakiBuddhist democracyDid not exist
42 / 500
Government
Japanese Communist Party (JCP)
Nihon Kyōsan-tō
Tetsuzo FuwaCommunism
26 / 500
26 / 500
Opposition
Liberal Party
Jiyū-tō
Ichirō OzawaLiberalism
Neoliberalism
Did not exist
18 / 500
Opposition
Conservative Party
Hoshutō
Chikage OogiConservatismDid not exist
18 / 500
Government
Social Democratic Party (SDP)
Shamin-tō
Takako DoiSocial democracy
15 / 500
14 / 511
Opposition
Assembly of Independents
Mushozoku no Kai
Shiina MotōDid not exist
4 / 500
Opposition
Sakigake
Sakigake
Masayoshi TakemuraLiberalism
Reformism
2 / 500
1 / 500
Opposition
Liberal League (LL)
Jiyū Rengō
Torao TokudaClassical liberalism
0 / 500
1 / 500
Opposition
Independents
9 / 500
9 / 500
Mixed
Defunct since last election
New Frontier Party (NFP)
Shinshintō
Ichirō OzawaNeoconservatism (Japanese)
Neoliberalism
156 / 500
Split
Democratic Reform Party (DRP)
Minkairen
Sasano TeikoSocial democracy
1 / 500
Merged into DPJ

Results

[edit]
Constituency cartogram

The House of Representatives consisted of 480 members, 300 elected from single-member constituencies and 180 elected on a proportional basis from eleven multi-member constituencies known as Block constituencies.

PartyProportionalConstituencyTotal
seats
+/–
Votes%SeatsVotes%Seats
Liberal Democratic Party16,943,42528.315624,945,80740.97177233−6
Democratic Party of Japan15,067,99025.184716,811,73227.6180127New
New Komeito Party7,762,03212.97241,231,7532.02731New
Japanese Communist Party6,719,01611.23207,352,84412.08020−6
Liberal Party6,589,49011.01182,053,7363.37422New
Social Democratic Party 5,603,6809.36152,315,2353.80419+4
Liberal League660,7241.1001,071,0121.7611New
New Conservative Party247,3340.4101,230,4642.0277New
Assembly of Independents151,3450.250652,1381.0755New
Other parties99,5650.170250,6810.4100
Independents2,967,0694.871515+6
Total59,844,601100.0018060,882,471100.00300480−20
Valid votes59,844,60195.3760,882,47197.01
Invalid/blank votes2,904,9834.631,877,3182.99
Total votes62,749,584100.0062,759,789100.00
Registered voters/turnout100,492,32862.44100,433,79862.49
Source: Election Resources, IPU

By prefecture

[edit]
PrefectureTotal
seats
Seats won
LDPDPJNKPNCPAISDPLPLLInd.
Aichi15591
Akita33
Aomori431
Chiba1275
Ehime44
Fukui33
Fukuoka11821
Fukushima5311
Gifu55
Gunma55
Hiroshima7511
Hokkaido1376
Hyōgo12332211
Ibaraki7511
Ishikawa33
Iwate413
Kagawa321
Kagoshima541
Kanagawa179611
Kōchi33
Kumamoto52111
Kyoto651
Mie5221
Miyagi624
Miyazaki33
Nagano532
Nagasaki4211
Nara44
Niigata6411
Ōita4211
Okayama55
Okinawa3111
Osaka1985411
Saga33
Saitama146611
Shiga321
Shimane33
Shizuoka9441
Tochigi541
Tokushima321
Tokyo2581313
Tottori22
Toyama33
Wakayama3111
Yamagata431
Yamaguchi431
Yamanashi321
Total3001778077544115

By PR block

[edit]
PR blockTotal
seats
Seats won
LDPDPJNKPJCPLPSDP
Chūgoku11422111
Hokkaido823111
Hokuriku–Shinetsu11431111
Kinki (Kansai)30775533
Kyushu21743223
Northern Kanto20753221
Shikoku63111
Southern Kanto21663222
Tohoku14531131
Tōkai21772221
Tokyo17462221
Total180564724201815

Analysis

[edit]

The further entrenchment of the 1955 System continued, with the Democratic Party of Japan replacing the New Frontier Party as the primary opposition to the LDP. The Social Democratic Party saw a brief resurgence following its near destruction in 1996, but the decline of the party would continue in the following election. The election set the groundwork for the system of politics that would lay how Japanese elections work until the collapse of the Democratic Party of Japan in the mid-2010s.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ French, Howard (26 June 2000). "GOVERNING PARTY IN JAPAN SUFFERS ELECTION SETBACK". New York Times. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  2. ^ "JAPAN Parliamentary Chamber: Shugiin ELECTIONS HELD IN 2000". IPU.org. Retrieved 27 January 2014.

Notes

[edit]

    2000 Japanese general election

    25 June 2000

    All 480 seats in the House of Representatives
    241 seats needed for a majority
    Turnout62.49% (Increase2.84pp; Const. votes)
    62.45% (Increase2.82pp; PR votes)
     First partySecond partyThird party
     
    LeaderYoshirō MoriYukio HatoyamaTakenori Kanzaki
    PartyLDPDemocraticKomeito
    Last election239 seats52 seats[a]Did not exist
    Seats before2719542
    Seats won23312731
    Seat changeDecrease 6Increase 75New
    Constituency vote24,945,80716,811,7321,231,753
    % and swing40.97% (Increase2.34pp)27.61% (Increase16.99pp)2.02% (New)
    Regional vote16,943,42515,067,9907,762,032
    % and swing28.31% (Decrease4.45pp)25.18% (Increase9.08pp)12.97% (New)

     Fourth partyFifth partySixth party
     
    LeaderIchirō OzawaTetsuzo FuwaTakako Doi
    PartyLiberalJCPSocial Democratic
    Last electionDid not exist26 seats15 seats
    Seats before182614
    Seats won222019
    Seat changeNewDecrease 6Increase 4
    Constituency vote2,053,7367,352,8442,315,235
    % and swing3.37% (New)12.08% (Decrease0.47pp)3.80% (Increase1.61pp)
    Regional vote6,589,4906,719,0165,603,680
    % and swing11.01% (New)11.23% (Decrease1.85pp)9.36% (Increase2.98pp)

    Districts and PR districts, shaded according to winners' vote strength

    Prime Minister before election

    Yoshirō Mori
    LDP

    Elected Prime Minister

    Yoshirō Mori
    LDP

    General elections were held in Japan on 25 June 2000 to elect the 480 members of the House of Representatives.

    The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) remained the largest party in the House of Representatives but lost seats, along with its two coalition partners. Two cabinet members, Takashi Fukaya and Tokuichiro Tamazawa, lost their seats. The Democratic Party made major gains under the leadership of Yukio Hatoyama.[1]

    Background

    Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi suffered a stroke in April 2000 and was replaced by Yoshiro Mori. Although the term limit for the House of Representatives would have been reached in October 2000, Mori dissolved the House on June 2 in what became popularly known as the Divine Nation Dissolution (神の国解散) due to a controversial statement by Mori prior to the election, which preceded a slump in government approval ratings from 40% to 20%. The LDP government advocated continued public works spending while the opposition advocated less spending and more governmental reforms.[2]

    The Social Democratic Party left the coalition in 1998 and re-join the opposition after years of coalition with the ideologically contrasting LDP.

    Meanwhile, the Komeito Party, a centrist party with roots from the Soka Gakkai based on the Nichiren Buddhist movement and despite almost decades of opposition against the LDP, shifted from centre towards conservatism. An electoral alliance between the once rivals of the Komeito and the LDP has been in effect since the Japanese General election in 2000. For the LDP, despite not being able to win an absolute majority of votes by itself in further elections (especially for the House of Councillors which the LDP lost majority since 1989), the Komeito party has been counted on since then to ensure a stable governing majority rule.

    Contesting parties

    PartyLeaderIdeologySeatsStatus
    1993 electionAt dissolution
    Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
    Jiyū-Minshutō
    Yoshirō MoriConservatism (Japanese)
    Japanese nationalism
    239 / 500
    271 / 500
    Government
    Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)
    Minshutō
    Yukio HatoyamaLiberalism
    52 / 500
    [b]
    95 / 500
    Opposition
    Komeito
    Kōmeitō
    Takenori KanzakiBuddhist democracyDid not exist
    42 / 500
    Government
    Japanese Communist Party (JCP)
    Nihon Kyōsan-tō
    Tetsuzo FuwaCommunism
    26 / 500
    26 / 500
    Opposition
    Liberal Party
    Jiyū-tō
    Ichirō OzawaLiberalism
    Neoliberalism
    Did not exist
    18 / 500
    Opposition
    Conservative Party
    Hoshutō
    Chikage OogiConservatismDid not exist
    18 / 500
    Government
    Social Democratic Party (SDP)
    Shamin-tō
    Takako DoiSocial democracy
    15 / 500
    14 / 511
    Opposition
    Assembly of Independents
    Mushozoku no Kai
    Shiina MotōDid not exist
    4 / 500
    Opposition
    Sakigake
    Sakigake
    Masayoshi TakemuraLiberalism
    Reformism
    2 / 500
    1 / 500
    Opposition
    Liberal League (LL)
    Jiyū Rengō
    Torao TokudaClassical liberalism
    0 / 500
    1 / 500
    Opposition
    Independents
    9 / 500
    9 / 500
    Mixed
    Defunct since last election
    New Frontier Party (NFP)
    Shinshintō
    Ichirō OzawaNeoconservatism (Japanese)
    Neoliberalism
    156 / 500
    Split
    Democratic Reform Party (DRP)
    Minkairen
    Sasano TeikoSocial democracy
    1 / 500
    Merged into DPJ

    Results

    Constituency cartogram

    The House of Representatives consisted of 480 members, 300 elected from single-member constituencies and 180 elected on a proportional basis from eleven multi-member constituencies known as Block constituencies.

    PartyProportionalConstituencyTotal
    seats
    +/–
    Votes%SeatsVotes%Seats
    Liberal Democratic Party16,943,42528.315624,945,80740.97177233−6
    Democratic Party of Japan15,067,99025.184716,811,73227.6180127New
    New Komeito Party7,762,03212.97241,231,7532.02731New
    Japanese Communist Party6,719,01611.23207,352,84412.08020−6
    Liberal Party6,589,49011.01182,053,7363.37422New
    Social Democratic Party 5,603,6809.36152,315,2353.80419+4
    Liberal League660,7241.1001,071,0121.7611New
    New Conservative Party247,3340.4101,230,4642.0277New
    Assembly of Independents151,3450.250652,1381.0755New
    Other parties99,5650.170250,6810.4100
    Independents2,967,0694.871515+6
    Total59,844,601100.0018060,882,471100.00300480−20
    Valid votes59,844,60195.3760,882,47197.01
    Invalid/blank votes2,904,9834.631,877,3182.99
    Total votes62,749,584100.0062,759,789100.00
    Registered voters/turnout100,492,32862.44100,433,79862.49
    Source: Election Resources, IPU

    By prefecture

    PrefectureTotal
    seats
    Seats won
    LDPDPJNKPNCPAISDPLPLLInd.
    Aichi15591
    Akita33
    Aomori431
    Chiba1275
    Ehime44
    Fukui33
    Fukuoka11821
    Fukushima5311
    Gifu55
    Gunma55
    Hiroshima7511
    Hokkaido1376
    Hyōgo12332211
    Ibaraki7511
    Ishikawa33
    Iwate413
    Kagawa321
    Kagoshima541
    Kanagawa179611
    Kōchi33
    Kumamoto52111
    Kyoto651
    Mie5221
    Miyagi624
    Miyazaki33
    Nagano532
    Nagasaki4211
    Nara44
    Niigata6411
    Ōita4211
    Okayama55
    Okinawa3111
    Osaka1985411
    Saga33
    Saitama146611
    Shiga321
    Shimane33
    Shizuoka9441
    Tochigi541
    Tokushima321
    Tokyo2581313
    Tottori22
    Toyama33
    Wakayama3111
    Yamagata431
    Yamaguchi431
    Yamanashi321
    Total3001778077544115

    By PR block

    PR blockTotal
    seats
    Seats won
    LDPDPJNKPJCPLPSDP
    Chūgoku11422111
    Hokkaido823111
    Hokuriku–Shinetsu11431111
    Kinki (Kansai)30775533
    Kyushu21743223
    Northern Kanto20753221
    Shikoku63111
    Southern Kanto21663222
    Tohoku14531131
    Tōkai21772221
    Tokyo17462221
    Total180564724201815

    Analysis

    The further entrenchment of the 1955 System continued, with the Democratic Party of Japan replacing the New Frontier Party as the primary opposition to the LDP. The Social Democratic Party saw a brief resurgence following its near destruction in 1996, but the decline of the party would continue in the following election. The election set the groundwork for the system of politics that would lay how Japanese elections work until the collapse of the Democratic Party of Japan in the mid-2010s.

    References

    1. ^ French, Howard (26 June 2000). "GOVERNING PARTY IN JAPAN SUFFERS ELECTION SETBACK". New York Times. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
    2. ^ "JAPAN Parliamentary Chamber: Shugiin ELECTIONS HELD IN 2000". IPU.org. Retrieved 27 January 2014.

    Notes

    Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2000_Japanese_general_election&oldid=1318179843"