The Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (自由民主党 Jiyū-Minshutō) frequently abbreviated to LDP or Jimintō (自民党) is a major 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 1955 except for a brief 11 month period between 1993 and 1994 and from 2009 to 2012. In the 2012 election it regained control of government.