Japan Election Results Spell Big Trouble for PM

Shinzo Abe's scandal-plagued administration suffered a possible death blow today as his coalition lost its majority in the upper house of the Japanese parliament, but the beleaguered PM vowed to remain on the job. Although Abe's Liberal Democratic Party dominates the lower chamber, the opposition can stall legislation in the upper house, effectively freezing the government, Reuters reports.

In just 10 months in office, Abe has improved relations with South Korea and China but has drawn widespread criticism for emphasizing constitutional reform over everyday issues of greater concern to voters. The opposition Democratic Party of Japan, led by an LDP defector, capitalized on the dissatisfaction to create a result an LDP official called a "complete defeat." (More Japan stories.)