TOKYO, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- Japan's 103 million electorate will vote Sunday in its first national election since Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi took office more than two years ago.
Analysts predict some gains by opposition parties in the 480-seat Japanese House of Representatives. But they expect voters to give Koizumi a big enough victory to implement his economic reforms.
Final public opinion polls Saturday showed strong support for the prime minister's Liberal Democratic Party, the Voice of America reported.
The Asahi Shimbun's poll found 40 percent of voters saying they favor the ruling party, and 33 percent favored a government by the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan.
Japan's ailing economy has been the major issue in the campaign. But candidates also debated proposals to send Japanese troops to Iraq and ways to deal with North Korea's nuclear program.
Polls predict the Liberal Democrats and two coalition partners to win between 250 and 270 seats, down from 287 in the last parliament. The opposition Democratic Party is predicted to win about 170 seats.
