Elections for the upper house of Japan’s parliament represented a major setback for prime minister Shinzo Abe and his Liberal Democratic Party, the opposition winning the majority after almost nine years.

 As an immediate consequence, Abe announced changes in his cabinet that will come into effect this autumn. The politician reiterated during a speech held Monday that he is responsible for the defeat, but will keep his chair as president of the LDP and prime minister despite Sunday’s loss.

“I will keep promoting reforms. I expect (the LDP senior officials) to tackle the issue of money and politics more vigorously,” the premier said.

”This humiliating setback is my responsibility. Our nation building has just begun... I would like to continue to fulfil my responsibility as prime minister,” he added.

Critics quickly emerged after the results were published, Abe’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki saying these polls send a clear message and the political strategy has to be reviewed in order to regain the trust of Japanese.

“We lost the public's confidence. We must sincerely take it as an important message,” Shiozaki said during an interview on Monday.

Along with criticism coming from prominent politicians, the media directed its fire upon Abe underlining that people do not trust the governments policies anymore, some publications even asking for his resignation.
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DJP) increased its influence as main party of the opposition after Sunday’s elections holding 109 seats in the upper chamber, representing a serious obstacle for Abe’s bills, as his power is clearly diminishing.