TOKYO, July 11 (UPI) -- Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Sunday he will not step down although his party may fall short of its target in the House of Councilors election.
Projections by the Kyodo News agency predict Koizumi's Liberal Democratic Party in Sunday's election will gain 47 seats, less than its target 51, and coalition ally the New Komeito party nine, while the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan, had also taken 47.
The results show the ruling coalition parties will win more than a combined 50 seats to retain a comfortable majority with 129 seats overall, enough strength to pass bills through all the upper chamber's existing panels as well as the plenary session.
"There will be no issue of responsibility if the coalition takes a majority," Koizumi said in a televised interview. The premier also denied the possibility LDP Secretary General Shinzo Abe will resign.
