Akashian general election, 1970

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Akashian general election, 1970

← 1966 27 June 1970 1972 →

200 seats in the National Assembly
101 seats needed for a majority
Turnout88,8%
  First party Second party Third party
  Kenzo Matsumura 01.jpg Kanson Arahata.jpg NaokoNemoto-2.jpg
Leader Masaki Ōshiro Tarō Yukimura Naoko Nemoto
Party NU SP NCP
Last election 104 seats
50,5%
22 seats
10,0%
20 seats
9,1%
Seats won 101 22 14
Seat change Decrease 9 Steady Decrease 6
PR vote 1.364.704 574.612 478.844
% and swing 28,5%
Decrease 21,8%
12,0%
Increase 2,0%
10,0%
Increase 0,9%
STV vote 2.420.884 551.290 431.445
% and swing 50,5%
Increase 50,5%
11,5%
Increase 11,5%
9,0%
Increase 9,0%

  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
Leader Yōichi Tatsuda Sumio Wakata Makoto Waki
Party AP LP NDP
Last election 13 seats
6,2%
12 seats
5,4%
11 seats
5,2%
Seats won 10 10 9
Seat change Decrease 3 Decrease 2 Decrease 2
PR vote 306.460 301.672 296.883
% and swing 6,4%
Increase 0,2%
6,3%
Increase 0,9%
6,2%
Increase 1,0%
STV vote 263.661 225.310 201.341
% and swing 5,5%
Increase 5,5%
4,7%
Increase 4,7%
4,2%
Increase 4,2%

Akashi-election-general-1970.png
Most voted party by province

Prime Minister before election

Yurika Ehara
NU

Prime Minister after election

Masaki Ōshiro
NU

A general election was held in Akashi on 27 June 1970. Following reforms to "open up the system", the National Assembly switched to parallel voting, half elected by nationwide proportional representation, and half elected from constituencies using single transferable vote.

The election was ruled by the aftermath of the Summer of Freedom: Yurika Ehara was retiring as Prime Minister but running in the presidential election, leaving Masaki Ōshiro to lead the party in the National Assembly. While the surge of anti-National Union sentiment in 1968–1969 had benefited the opposition, it was once again fractured by the chaotic disintegration of the protests.

The start of the "siege economy" brought an end to decades of rapid growth, which further polarised the opposition parties. Masaki's low-key personality proved no match for other party leaders, but appealed to a public exhausted by the chaos of the Summer of Freedom and wary of the new economic uncertainty.

Results

General election, 27 June 1970
Akashi-election-gen-1970.svg
Party Party list Constituency Total
seats
+/-
PR % +/− STV % +/−
National Union 1.364.704 28,5% -21,8% 2.420.884 50,5% +50,5% 101 -9
Socialist Party 574.612 12,0% +2,0% 551.290 11,5% +11,5% 22 ±0
National Cooperative Party 478.844 10,0% +0,9% 431.445 9,0% +9,0% 14 -6
Agrarian Party 306.460 6,4% +0,2% 263.661 5,5% +5,5% 10 -3
Liberal Party 301.672 6,3% +0,9% 225.310 4,7% +4,7% 10 -2
National Democratic Party 296.883 6,2% +1,0% 201.341 4,2% +4,2% 9 -2
Communist Party 292.095 6,1% +1,1% 191.753 4,0% +4,0% 9 -1
Reform Party 287.306 6,0% +0,8% 134.227 2,8% +2,8% 8 -3
United Akashi 277.729 5,8% +5,8% 119.846 2,5% +2,5% 7 +7
Conservative National Party 167.595 3,5% +1,7% 67.114 1,4% +1,4% 3 +3
Social Credit Party 143.653 3,0% +1,0% 57.526 1,2% +1,2% 3 +3
Akashi Renewal Party 129.288 2,7% +1,0% 47.938 1,0% +1,0% 2 +2
Freedom League 119.711 2,5% +0,9% 38.351 0,8% +0,8% 1 +1
Independents 47.884 1,0% -0,7% 43.144 0,9% +0,9% 1 -1
Total 4.788.437 100% 4.793.829 100% 200
Registered voters and turnout 5.392.384 88,8% 5.392.384 88,9%

Shocking the public and opposition, Masaki pulled off a final majority for the NU, now down to one seat. The party's over 20% fall in party list votes was compensated by winning a narrow majority of first preference votes in constituencies.

Disappointingly for the opposition, there was no major breakthrough that would end the NU's dominance. The appearance of United Akashi merely added to a crowded centre-right field that already included the National Democratic Party, Reform Party, and Liberal Party. The abolition of the electoral threshold allowed the Akashi Renewal Party and Freedom League to enter the legislature for the first time.

The high polarisation among the electorate resulted in the smallest independent presence in the legislature, with only one seat.

Although Masaki won a majority, he faced an internal fracture within the NU caused by the Summer of Freedom. In an attempt to shore up his position, he formed a coalition with the SP and NCP. This kept him Prime Minister until 1972, when his government lost a budget vote that forced a snap election.