Japanese opposition hails election victory
Japanese voters have swept the country's opposition party to an historic election victory, ousting the ruling conservative party and handing the untested Democrats the challenge of rejuvenating the struggling economy.
As votes are still being counted, one Japanese broadcast network has predicted that the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has won 300 seats in the 480-seat lower house, ending 50 years of almost unbroken rule by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP.)
Prime Minister Taro Aso said on Sunday that he took responsibility for the defeat and would resign as head of the LDP.
Japan is suffering a record 5.7 per cent unemployment and its economy is struggling to emerge from the recession.
The DPJ has said it will shift the focus of government from supporting corporations to helping consumers and workers.
In a news conference following their win, Democratic Party leader Yukio Hatoyama said: "We have been saying that people's livelihoods are the most important thing. Unfortunately, the politics to date did not realise that. I would like to bring about a Japanese society that will care about each and every one's hearts and where everyone can find a place to be and a place to work."
Mr Hatoyama is almost certain to lead the next government. He is the grandson of the founder of Bridgestone tyres, and his other grandfather was a former LDP prime minister.
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As Japan's opposition DPJ sweep to election victory, and Prime Minister Taro Aso resigns, the incoming government face daunting economic challenges.
