Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is set to be re-elected for another term following his party's victory in a Dec. 14 snap election. Abe will then announce his new cabinet, which local media say will be largely unchanged.
Despite low voter turnout, the election's outcome was seen as a public endorsement of Abe's strategy for reviving the economy through his "Abenomics" policies. In a survey conducted by local media before the election, the country's economic problems were the top concern of Japanese.
Yet, the majority said that "Abenomics" had not brought real benefits to the economy and hoped Abe would change the policies in the near future.
"From my point, as a housewife, I don't feel our economy is recovering," a Japanese said. "I think politics should not be separated from their people. It should be closely connected with our daily life. I hope Shinzo Abe doesn't forget it. I hope he carries out his policies with the consideration of our life."
"Shinzo Abe declared during the election that Japanese' incomes are increasing under 'Abenomics' economic policies," another citizen said. "Yes, as a matter fact, our income has increased from the surface, but our purchasing power has decreased. If he really hopes to improve people’s livelihood, he needs to alter his economic policies."