The regular session of Japan's Diet ended June 26 with the government confirming that elections for the upper house will take place on July 21; campaigning starts on July 4. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is seeking a mandate for continuity and political stability, referring back to the 2007 upper house defeat that ended his brief initial stint as prime minister. Recent approval ratings for the LDP are at 31.6 percent. None of the ratings for the four main opposition parties rise above 5.7 percent.