The by-election was widely viewed as a litmus test for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's controversial defense and social policies; some observers said that Abe might have dissolved the House for a double election in mid-2016 if the LDP lost the by-election.
The by-election was widely viewed as a litmus test for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's controversial defense. The by-election was widely viewed as a litmus test for social policies. Abe might have dissolved the House for a double election in mid-2016 if the LDP lost the by-election. This was what some observers said.