House of Councillors elections were held in Japan on 22 June 1980. On 16 May the Japan Socialist Party (JSP) brought no-confidence motion before the Diet relating to corruption issues, proposing more defense spending and rises in public utility charges as reasons for the House of Representatives to withdraw its backing from the government. Unexpectedly, 69 Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) members of the Diet from the Fukuda Takeo, Miki Takeo and Hidenao Nakagawa factions abstained from voting on the motion. The government was defeated by 56 votes in total of 243 and resigned. For the first time elections for both the House of Councillors and the House of Representatives were elected at the same time. In the elections of both the houses the LDP gained a majority.

Quick Facts 127 of the 252 seats in the House of Councillors 127 seats needed for a majority, First party ...

1980 Japanese House of Councillors election

← 1977 22 June 1980 1983 →
127 of the 252 seats in the House of Councillors 127 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   Leader Masayoshi Ōhira Ichio Asukata Yoshikatsu Takeiri Party Liberal Democratic Socialist Kōmeitō Last election 124 seats, 35.8% 56 seats, 17.3% 28 seats, 14.2% Seats after 135 47 26 Seat change 11 9 2 Popular vote 23,778,190 7,341,828 6,669,387 Percentage 42.5% 13.1% 11.9% Swing 6.7% 4.2% 2.3%   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   Leader Kenji Miyamoto Kasuga Ikkō Yōhei Kōno Party Communist Democratic Socialist New Liberal Club Last election 16 seats, 8.4% 11 seats, 6.7% 4 seats, 3.9% Seats after 12 11 2 Seat change 4 2 Popular vote 4,072,019 3,364,478 351,291 Percentage 7.3% 6.0% 0.6% Swing 1.1% 0.7% 3.3%
President of the House of Councillors before election Ken Yasui Liberal Democratic Elected President of the House of Councillors Masatoshi Tokunaga Liberal Democratic

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