1993 Japanese general election

Japanese general election, 1993

23 July 1993
All 511 seats to the House of Representatives of Japan 256 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party   File:Morihiro Hosokawa.jpg File:MiyazawaKiichi.jpg Leader Morihiro Hosokawa Kiichi Miyazawa Party New Party Liberal Democratic Alliance Eight-party Alliance Last election — 275 seats, 46.14% Seats won 258 223 Seat change +258 -52 Popular vote 35,356,819 22,999,646 Percentage 56.30% 36.62%
Prime Minister before election Kiichi Miyazawa Liberal Democratic Prime Minister-designate Morihiro Hosokawa Eight-party Alliance

Japan held a nationwide election to the House of Representatives, the more powerful lower house of the National Diet, on July 18, 1993.

Overview

The consumption tax and the Recruit scandal seriously affected the popularity of the long-time ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Along with the opposition MPs, members of some factions of the LDP cast a vote of no confidence against prime minister Kiichi Miyazawa; in response Miyazawa decided to dissolve the House of Representatives. Some LDP dissidents then left the party and formed new parties.

Results

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party lost its overall majority for the first time since 1983 and also failed to form the government for the first time since 1955. They were replaced by an eight-party alliance headed by Morihiro Hosokawa, who was elected prime minister. Template:Japan general election, 1993