Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s coalition swept to a historic election win on Sunday, paving the way for promised tax cuts and a stronger defence system.
Her party Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) alone sailed past the 233 seats needed for a majority less than two hours after polls closed, on track for one of its best ever election results.
With her coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, known as Ishin, Takaichi now has a supermajority of two-thirds of seats. This will ease her legislative agenda as she can override the upper chamber, which she does not control.
The exit polls earlier showed that Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner Ishin are projected to win a combined 302 to 366 seats in the 465-member Lower House, Reuters reported citing NHK exit polls. Meanwhile, Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party was projected to win 274 to 328 of the 465 seats in the chamber, well above the 233 needed for a majority.
Takaichi, 64, became prime minister in October after being selected as LDP leader and called the rare winter election to secure a fresh mandate while riding a wave of popularity.
Known for her straight-talking style and image as a hard worker, she has found strong backing among younger voters.
In office, she moved quickly to accelerate military spending to counter China and has pushed for a sales-tax cut, a move that has unsettled financial markets.
Her appeal among younger voters has spilled over into popular culture, with a social media-driven phenomenon dubbed “sanakatsu,” centred on products she uses, such as her handbag and the pink pen she carries in parliament, a Reuters report added.
Adding to the campaign’s final stretch, Takaichi received the endorsement of US President Donald Trump on Thursday. While the backing may energise right-leaning voters, it also risks alienating some moderates.
Modi congratulates
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday congratulated PM Sanae Takaichi calling it a “landmark victory in the elections to the House of Representatives”
In an X post, PM Modi said “Our Special Strategic and Global Partnership plays a vital role in enhancing global peace, stability and prosperity.”
“I am confident that under your able leadership, we will continue to take the India-Japan friendship to greater heights,” he added.