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Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (view source)
Revision as of 14:26, December 16, 2008
, 14:26, December 16, 2008New page: thumb|right|The logo of the LDP The Japanese '''Liberal Democratic Party''' (<font size=3>自由民主党</font> ''Jiyū-Minshutō'') is the conservative, centre-righ...
[[Image:Sunkids.png|thumb|right|The logo of the LDP]]
The Japanese '''Liberal Democratic Party''' (<font size=3>自由民主党</font> ''Jiyū-Minshutō'') is the conservative, centre-right political party, currently in power in [[Japan]]. Abbreviated as the LDP (<font size=3>自民党</font> ''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 <font size=3>自由党</font>) and the Japan Democratic Party (Nihon Minshuto <font size=3>日本民主党</font>) 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) .
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, while the LDP had been able to secure a majority in the twelve House of Representatives elections from May 1958 to February 1990. Following charges of corruption in Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa's government, 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 remained Japan's largest political party. Since 1994, when the LDP returned to power, it has been the senior partner in a series of coalition governments.<ref>http://countrystudies.us/japan/122.htm</ref>
From its formation, until 1993, when it became a simple majority in the lower House of Representatives, all of Japan's Prime Mministers have come from its ranks. Taro Aso, the current president of the LDP, is the Prime Minister of Japan.
==Tenets of the Party==
The Party's "Inaugural Declaration" begins by stating that -
{{cquote|Politics must serve the public interest. Politics are the means by which public stability and welfare are enhanced at home while national sovereignty is restored and conditions for peace are secured abroad. Fully conscious of these goals and duties, we hereby establish the Liberal Democratic Party and pledge ourselves to work through the popular will to uphold the principles and ideals of democracy.}}
The Party's basic philosophy is further illuminated by the following passage -
{{cquote|In establishing this Party, our primary political goal is to pursue mainstream parliamentary politics. We therefore reject all forces and ideologies that promote the use of violence, revolution, or dictatorship as political instruments. In addition, we affirm that respect for individual rights and dignity is the most basic premise of social order and adamantly oppose the imposition of dictatorship or class ideology by force.}}<ref>http://www.jimin.jp/jimin/english/history/03.html</ref>
==External links==
*[http://www.jimin.jp/jimin/english/index.html Official Site of the LDP (English)]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[category:Japan]][[category:Politics]]
The Japanese '''Liberal Democratic Party''' (<font size=3>自由民主党</font> ''Jiyū-Minshutō'') is the conservative, centre-right political party, currently in power in [[Japan]]. Abbreviated as the LDP (<font size=3>自民党</font> ''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 <font size=3>自由党</font>) and the Japan Democratic Party (Nihon Minshuto <font size=3>日本民主党</font>) 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) .
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, while the LDP had been able to secure a majority in the twelve House of Representatives elections from May 1958 to February 1990. Following charges of corruption in Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa's government, 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 remained Japan's largest political party. Since 1994, when the LDP returned to power, it has been the senior partner in a series of coalition governments.<ref>http://countrystudies.us/japan/122.htm</ref>
From its formation, until 1993, when it became a simple majority in the lower House of Representatives, all of Japan's Prime Mministers have come from its ranks. Taro Aso, the current president of the LDP, is the Prime Minister of Japan.
==Tenets of the Party==
The Party's "Inaugural Declaration" begins by stating that -
{{cquote|Politics must serve the public interest. Politics are the means by which public stability and welfare are enhanced at home while national sovereignty is restored and conditions for peace are secured abroad. Fully conscious of these goals and duties, we hereby establish the Liberal Democratic Party and pledge ourselves to work through the popular will to uphold the principles and ideals of democracy.}}
The Party's basic philosophy is further illuminated by the following passage -
{{cquote|In establishing this Party, our primary political goal is to pursue mainstream parliamentary politics. We therefore reject all forces and ideologies that promote the use of violence, revolution, or dictatorship as political instruments. In addition, we affirm that respect for individual rights and dignity is the most basic premise of social order and adamantly oppose the imposition of dictatorship or class ideology by force.}}<ref>http://www.jimin.jp/jimin/english/history/03.html</ref>
==External links==
*[http://www.jimin.jp/jimin/english/index.html Official Site of the LDP (English)]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[category:Japan]][[category:Politics]]