Real Property

According to exit poll estimates reported by various TV networks, the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), led by Yukio Hatoyama, would get between 298 and 329 of the 480 seats in the House of Representatives.

Hatoyama, 62, a wealthy heir to a political dynasty often compared to Kennedy, will be appointed prime minister by the parliament within two weeks.

Instead, the powerful Liberal Democratic Party (LDP, right) who ruled for the past 54 years with only a brief period of ten months in 1993-94, would get between 84 and 131 seats, equivalent to a crushing defeat.

But wait for the official results to be announced on Monday morning, Prime Minister Taro Aso, 68, acknowledged the electoral debacle and said he intended to leave the LDP leadership.

I take my responsibility and I will resign, he said.

Anyway Aso, who recently broke records for unpopularity, will continue in office until the appointment of Hatoyama.

The DPJ, a heterogeneous movement which is already majority in the Senate with the support of two other opposition parties, will now have absolute majority in parliament and therefore free rein to pursue his ambitious reform agenda.

A smiling Hatoyama thanked voters for their support and said that now the main challenge will be to turn this victory into the village without being arrogant.

The pledge to change the Japanese is also a vote of punishment for the excesses of the liberal policy pursued by the LDP in recent years, which blame for the growing social inequalities, unemployment and insecurity.

By contrast, the centrist DPJ wants to put its policy to serve the life of the people 'with a very generous subsidies, both for old-age pensions to the families and the disadvantaged.

advocate of reviving the economy through consumption, the winning party promised free education part – , births and aid the removal of tolls on motorways.

In the diplomatic arena, Hatoyama puts forth a more independent Japan and the United States poured into Asia, without calling questioned its strategic alliance with Washington.

Indeed Barack Obama U.S. President expects a strong partnership with the next prime minister.

opposition victory unleashed a burst of exultation and thunderous applause at the DPJ headquarters, located in Roppongi, one of Tokyo's trendiest neighborhoods.

But Hatoyama knows very well that once the excitement will begin to decline serious things for this party girl who has never governed. A great responsibility, he confessed.

The respite will be short. On Monday, the DPJ restricted to appoint a team responsible for ensuring a smooth transition with the outgoing administration, following the U.S. model. A chance to acquire some experience.

The LDP, the man behind the economic miracle that made Japan the second world economic power, takes the cross of the coin, relegated to the opposition.

And now stay in the opposition could be much longer than the ten months of 1990, as it has before him a large majority party will do its best to stay in power .

In this context it is very likely that conservatives exploit to reform the party. Aso has already stated this.

As a mere member, I must fight for the renewal of the LDP, he said after announcing his forthcoming resignation and admit defeat when you close a political chapter in Japan.