Parliamentary Democracy in Japan

With the Liberal Democratic Party’s strong performance in the House of Councillors election in July this year, the political stage seems set for a period of stability that could last up to three years, barring dissolution of the House of Representatives. During the period up to the next general election, to be held no later than December 2016, Prime Minister Abe Shinzō will aim to maintain a solid grip on the tiller. But do Japan’s parliamentary systems pose any threats to this stability?