AFTER fighting one of the dirtiest election battles in living memory Shinzo Abe, Japan’s prime minister, today faces what may be his last few hours in power.

A growing number of political analysts believe that should Abe’s ruling Liberal Democratic party (LDP) lose its majority in the upper house of parliament he will be forced to resign.

Although Abe vowed last week to “fight on” whatever the result a particularly fierce anti-LDP backlash might force him to call a snap general election. Even the most pro-LDP polls forecast a substantial blow to the ruling bloc.

Party insiders speak of “at least 20” lower house colleagues who are quietly preparing election campaigns. The LDP needs to win just over 50 seats to retain its majority but no poll so far has predicted it will garner more than 45.

More than half the country believes Abe should step down if his party slumps below the 40-seat level today. Technically Abe can survive whatever the result but even if he struggles on he will do so without the ability to bring essential bills into law.

Across Japan the upper house elections are being treated as a referendum - partly on Abe’s chaotic 10 months in power but mostly on the nearly unbroken 52 years that the LDP has controlled the country. Abe’s short time at the helm of the world’s second largest economy has been tumultuous. Although he quickly achieved his first aim, of repairing the embittered relations between Japan and China, his honeymoon period ended within weeks.

Since that time three cabinet ministers have resigned amid gaffes and scandals and his agriculture minister has committed suicide. A fiasco in which the records of 50m pension benefit claims have been lost in the system has also blown up on Abe’s watch.

Times Recommends

• Henning Mankell: ‘If Wallander was alive, I wouldn’t be a friend of his’
• Secret society's skull and crossbones for sale
• Nigerian leader vanishes after medical treatment