The Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (自由民主党 Jiyū-Minshutō), frequently abbreviated to LDP or Jimintō (自民党), is a centre-right conservative political party in Japan. It is one of the most consistently successful political parties in the world. The LDP has been in power since 1948, except for a brief 18 month period between 1992 and 1994, and from 2003 to 2009. In the 2009 election it regained control of government. It holds 297 seats in the lower house and 105 seats in the upper house.