his main rival, yoshihiko noda, leader of the opposition constitutional democratic party, told supportersthe party cash, ignoring the needs of japan's poorest. going into the election, the ldp and its coalition partner komeito had a healthy majority, with 279 of the a65 seats in the house of representatives. the constitutional democratic party, its closest rival, stood at 98 seats, with the remainder scattered between a range of minor parties from across the political spectrum. many analysts are predicting large losses for the ldp, but if the ldp does not have enough members or votes to form government, which opposition policy and party would be able to do just that? our correspondent has more information about the circumstances and the significance of this election. the most significant thing is how— the most significant thing is how unusual it is. the fact that— how unusual it is. the fact that japanese politics and elections specifically are not exciting, in fact they are quite _ exciting, in fact they are quite boring and a steady, this election— 1536 00:17:48,716 --> 00:17:48

but yoshihiko noda, the leader of the constitutional democratic party has hailed the result as a successthis 0ur primary goal in this general— our primary goal in this general election was to force the ruling coalition to lose its majority. in that sense, we have _ its majority. in that sense, we have achieved the goal. it was a great — have achieved the goal. it was a great achievement. joining me now is our tokyo correspondent, shaimaa khalil she's been following the events as i she's been following the events as i have — she's been following the events as i have as well. first, remind _ as i have as well. first, remind our viewers how unusual and unprecedented this is. first — and unprecedented this is. first of— and unprecedented this is. first of all the fact we were up first of all the fact we were up almost all night trying to read into these numbers that people were kept on the edge of their seats does read into how big of a loss to the ldp has suffered. this is highly, highly unusual. the ldp has had a safe, steady presence in japanese elections and in japanese elections and in

but yoshihiko noda, the leader of the constitutional democratic party, has hailed the result as a successn was to force the ruling coalition to lose its majority. in that sense, we have achieved the goal. it was a great achievement. joining me now is our tokyo correspondent, shaimaa khalil. she has been monitoring the press conference that is happening as we are discussing this. what has been said so far? �* , ., , far? he's reiterating the lines we have heard, _ far? he's reiterating the lines we have heard, starting - far? he's reiterating the lines we have heard, starting the l we have heard, starting the press conference saying that the ldp has received a severe judgement from pieces and we are humbly accepting the results and he's also announced they have agreed on a coalition and the question is that now they have both combined and have fallen short from forming a ruling coalition, who else canjoin them and is a ruling coalition, who else can join them and is willing to join them to govern? even his to strengthen defence and need to strengthen defence and need to listen to people mo

but yoshihiko noda, the leader of the constitutional democratic party has hailed the result as a successary goal in this general election was to force the ruling coalition to lose its majority. in that sense, we have achieved the goal. it was a great achievement. lets get some more reaction from our tokyo correspondent. we've seen the resignation of the campaign chief and i suppose it was inevitable that somebody was going to have to take the fall.— take the fall. that's right and it was expected _ take the fall. that's right and it was expected after - take the fall. that's right and it was expected after we - take the fall. that's right and it was expected after we got | it was expected after we got the exit poll last night and it looked really grim for the ldp, the ruling party, and we were talking about who would take the fall and take responsibility and it was highly expected the chief deputy secretary general of the ruling party but remember his position in terms of the election, he was the election campaign committee, so we are seeing the fallout, the political fallout within the

his main rival, yoshihiko noda, leader of the opposition constitutional democratic party, told supportersparty cash, ignoring the needs of japan's poorest. going into the eleciton, the ldp and its coalition partner komeito had a healthy majority, with 279 of the a65 seats in the house of representatives. the constitutional democratic party, its closest rival, stood at 98 seats, with the remainder scattered between a range of minor parties from across the political spectrum. many analysts are predicting large losses for the ldp, the question remains who will form a government if they lose the majority? we will discuss this further with our tokyo correspondent. viewers of the circumstances that to this election day here in japan? that to this election day here in ja an? .,, that to this election day here injaan? , in japan? the most significant thin is in japan? the most significant thing is how — in japan? the most significant thing is how unusual - in japan? the most significant thing is how unusual this - in japan? the most significant thing is how unusual this is. i thing is how unusual

but yoshihiko noda, the leader of the constitutional democratic party has hailed the result as a successimary goal in this general election was to force the ruling coalition to lose its majority. in that sense, we have achieved the goal. it was a great achievement. joining me now is our tokyo correspondent, shaimaa khalil it is worth explaining to our viewers how unusual and unprecedented the results really are. unprecedented the results really are-— really are. it's unusual because _ really are. it's unusual because we _ really are. it's unusual because we need - really are. it's unusual because we need so i really are. it's unusual- because we need so much more caffeine than we normally do. this is my third cup of coffee but as you are speaking i was to appoint —— tweeting that japanese politics doesn't do drama and there was a lot of that. this is why it so unusual, the fact we were kept on the edge of our seats and it was too close to call, the fact four hours and hours through the night wejust four hours and hours through the night we just didn't have a definitive idea about how bad