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Opposition wins landslide in Japan election

2009-08-31 13:50 BJT

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Japan's main opposition, the Democratic Party of Japan, has crushed the ruling conservative Liberal Democratic Party with an historic landslide victory. Results show the DPJ got more than 300 of the 480 seats in Japan's lower house of parliament. The LDP now holds about 100 seats, a third of its strength before the vote.

The victory by the Democratic Party of Japan ends a half-century of almost unbroken rule by the Liberal Democratic Party.

DPJ leader Yukio Hatoyama will become Japan's next prime minister.

Yukio Hatoyama, DPJ Leader, said, "We felt very strongly that we had to change the politics and knew this election was about a shift in power. We would like to thank everyone that has supported us to make this victory happen."

Incumbent prime minister and LDP leader Taro Aso says he will take responsibility for his party's loss.