Akashian general election, 1962

Akashian general election, 1962

30 June 1962
200 seats in the National Assembly 101 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	87,7%
First party Second party   Leader Yurika Ehara Collective leadership Party NU SP–LP–NDP–CP–WP–SCP Alliance National List United Opposition Last election 107 seats 50,7% 52 seats1 23,9%1 Seats won 104 66 Seat change 3 141 Popular vote 1.906.725 1.227.100 Percentage 50,5% 32,5% Swing 0,2% 8,6%1   Third party Fourth party   Leader Matsuyo Miyazaki Collective leadership Party NCP–AP CNP–ARP Alliance Centre List Conservative List Last election 30 seats1 15,0%1 6 seats1 5,0%1 Seats won 28 0 Seat change 21 61 Popular vote 528.597 75.514 Percentage 14,0% 2,0% Swing 1,0%1 3,0%1
Most voted list by province
Prime Minister before election Yurika Ehara NU Prime Minister after election Yurika Ehara NU

A general election was held in Akashi on 30 June 1962. The incumbent Yurika Ehara government was re-elected with a majority.

This was famous as the "election of alliances" (Miranian: 同盟の選挙 Dōmei no senkyo). Building on the United Left from 1960, the Socialist Party, Liberal Party, National Democratic Party, Communist Party, Workers' Party, and Social Credit Party formed the United Opposition in an attempt to defeat the Yurikara government.

In turn, the National Cooperative Party and Agrarian Party formed the Centre List, having declined to join the United Opposition, while the Conservative National Party and Akashi Renewal Party banded together in the Conservative List. This left the National Union as the only party running alone in the election, under the banner of the National List.

The campaign was fractious due to the size of the United Opposition and difficult questions over seat distribution that had been sidestepped to simply organise the alliance for election. Within the alliance, there was tension between the left and right — the NDP and LP resented sharing a list with the CP and WP, while the CP and WP still pursued their rivalry against the SP. The NU attacked the United Opposition over this ambiguity, warning voters they could not be sure who they were voting for.

Results

General election, 30 June 1962
Party		Votes	%	+/−	Seats	+/−
	National Union	1.906.725	50,5%	-0,2%	104	-3
	Socialist Party	1.227.100	32,5%	+8,6%	11	-11
	Liberal Party				11	-1
	National Democratic Party				11	+4
	Communist Party				11	+5
	Workers' Party				11	+6
	Social Credit Party				11	+11
	National Cooperative Party	528.597	14,0%	-1,0%	14	-4
	Agrarian Party				14	+2
	Conservative National Party	75.514	2,0%	-3,0%	0	-6
	Akashi Renewal Party				0	±0
	Independents	37.757	1,0%	-1,0%	2	-3
Total		3.775.693	100%	—	200	—
Registered voters and turnout		4.305.237	87,7%

• Government: National Union majority.

The United Opposition failed to accomplish its goal. While it cumulatively increased its vote by 8,6%, it didn't defeat the NU. It won 66 seats in total, which had to be divided among 6 parties, causing further acrimony. Ultimately, each member party took 11 seats in the National Assembly.

The Centre List did better, weathering a 1% vote decline and giving both its parties 14 seats each. The CNP suffered a backlash for teaming up with the ARP, and lost all its seats.

Although the United Opposition was a failure, it fueled a rapprochement between the CP and WP. Additionally, this was the first general election where the NU didn't manage a clean sweep of all provinces, as the United Opposition won pluralities in Kobi and Shimachi.

¹ All seat changes and percentages compared to the parties' cumulative totals in 1958.