Japanese Leader Rejects Calls To Step Down

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe rejected suggestions he resign Monday but said he would reshuffle his Cabinet in the wake of a humiliating election defeat that spurred calls for him to step down.

"The election results were severe for the LDP, and I bear all the responsibility as head of the party," Abe said at an afternoon news conference on Sunday's upper house elections. "But my responsibility is to fulfill the duty to fully achieve economic recovery."

Abe also said he plans to reshuffle his Cabinet after a special session of Parliament, which has not yet been scheduled.

Voter outrage over millions of missing pension records and a series of political scandals stripped Abe's Liberal Democratic Party of its majority in parliament's 242-seat upper house, while handing the opposition huge gains. The defeat was the clearest proof yet of Abe's tumbling fortunes and a dramatic reversal of the stellar support he enjoyed after taking office less than a year ago.

Newspaper editorials urged Abe to resign in the face of the public's revolt.

"Voters gave a clear failing mark," the Asahi newspaper said. "The prime minister should face the results seriously and step down."

The Tokyo and Mainichi newspapers meanwhile called on Abe to disband parliament's lower house for snap elections that could put a new premier in office.

"You have yet to be baptized in a general election," the Tokyo Newspaper said in an editorial addressed to the beleaguered prime minister. "We call for an election to be held promptly to give voters the opportunity to make their choice."

Official election results released early Monday showed the LDP and its junior coalition partner, the New Komeito, with a total of 103 seats — a 30-seat loss that left it far short of the 122 needed to control the house. The main opposition Democratic Party grabbed 112 seats, up from 81.

Only 121, or half, of the upper chamber's 242 seats were up for grabs in Sunday's polls.

Abe accepted responsibility for the loss hours after polls closed Sunday night, but refused to step down.

"I must push ahead with reforms and continue to fulfill my responsibilities as prime minister," Abe said.

Among the first casualties, however, was the LDP's No. 2 official, Secretary-General Hidenao Nakagawa, who resigned in the face of mounting losses.

Hoping to reinvigorate his hobbled government, Abe is likely to reshuffle his Cabinet in the coming weeks.

"Our party must reflect on the results and rebuild itself," said LDP lawmaker Yoichi Masuzoe, who retained his seat. Early Monday, he urged Abe to "form a well-balanced and strong Cabinet."

Abe was expected to meet with New Komeito leader Akihiro Ota later Monday to reconfirm their coalition.

The LDP still controls the more powerful lower chamber, which chooses the prime minister. But calls for Abe's resignation could start sounding from within the Liberal Democratic Party. Stepping down in the face of a heavy election defeat is not unprecedented.