Ruling Coalition Makes Strong Showing in Vote
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s ruling bloc declared victory in midterm elections, with early results showing it won five of seven parliamentary seats up for grabs for a net gain of one seat.
Thirty candidates were vying for five seats in the powerful 480-seat lower house and two in the 247-seat upper house.
The vote was the latest test of the Liberal Democratic Party-led government’s popularity since Koizumi took office in April 2001, though the outcome of the midterm elections won’t affect the balance of power in parliament.
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