Changes

The Japanese '''Liberal Democratic Party''' is the [[conservative]], centre-right political party, currently in power in [[Japan]]. Abbreviated as the LDP (''Jimintō'') it is Japan's largest political party.

The Japanese '''Liberal Democratic Party''' is the [[conservative]], centre-right political party, currently in power in [[Japan]]. Abbreviated as the LDP (''Jimintō'') it is Japan's largest political party.

The LDP's roots can be traced to the 1880s and the groups established by [[Itagaki Taisuke]] and [[Okuma Shigenobu]]. However, the party came into being in November 1955, when the conservative Liberal Party (''Jiyuto'') and the Japan Democratic Party (''Nihon Minshuto'') united in response to the threat posed by a unified Japan Socialist Party, which had been established the month before. This merger came about in light of public opinion and sentiments within the liberal democratic camp itself, which caused the movement towards a "conservative alliance" to gain momentum at the beginning of 1953. Then, in November of 1954, the Reform Party joined with the Japan Liberal Party to form the Japan Democratic Party (actually an ultra Nationalist Party) .

The LDP's roots can be traced to the 1880s and the groups established by [[Itagaki Taisuke]] and [[Okuma Shigenobu]]. However, the party came into being in November 1955, when the conservative Liberal Party (''Jiyuto'') and the Japan Democratic Party (''Nihon Minshuto'') united in response to the threat posed by a unified Japan Socialist Party, which had been established the month before. This merger came about in light of public opinion and sentiments within the liberal democratic camp itself, which caused the movement towards a "conservative alliance" to gain momentum at the beginning of 1953. Then, in November 1954, the Reform Party joined with the Japan Liberal Party to form the Japan Democratic Party (actually an ultra Nationalist Party) .

It has retained control of the [[National Diet]] for over 45 years, the LDP supported Japan's alliance with the United States and fostered close links between Japanese business and government. Election statistics show that the LDP has been able to secure a majority in the twelve House of Representatives elections from May 1958 until February 1990. It was only following charges of corruption in Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa's government, that it lost its parliamentary majority in the 1993 elections, which put a coalition government in power. In spite of numerous defections by LDP Members of Parliament over the party's failure to enact political reform, it still remained Japan's largest political party. The LDP returned to power in 1994, and has been the senior political partner in a series of coalition governments thereafter.<ref>http://countrystudies.us/japan/122.htm</ref>

It has retained control of the [[National Diet]] for over 45 years, the LDP supported Japan's alliance with the United States and fostered close links between Japanese business and government. Election statistics show that the LDP has been able to secure a majority in the twelve House of Representatives elections from May 1958 until February 1990. It was only following charges of corruption in Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa's government, that it lost its parliamentary majority in the 1993 elections, which put a coalition government in power. In spite of numerous defections by LDP Members of Parliament over the party's failure to enact political reform, it still remained Japan's largest political party. The LDP returned to power in 1994, and has been the senior political partner in a series of coalition governments thereafter.<ref>http://countrystudies.us/japan/122.htm</ref>