A commanding win at the polls
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is heading for a decisive victory after calling snap elections, with early estimates suggesting her ruling bloc has secured a two-thirds majority in the lower house. If confirmed, it would mark the Liberal Democratic Party’s strongest performance since 2017, during the tenure of her mentor, the late Shinzo Abe. Media projections put the LDP at around 300 of the 465 seats, a dramatic jump that could allow the party to govern comfortably even without its junior partners.
“This result shows voters’ confidence in Prime Minister Takaichi’s proactive economic policies and stronger national defence,” LDP Secretary General Shunichi Suzuki said. Meanwhile, the main opposition alliance suffered heavy losses, and the anti-immigration Sanseito party appeared to make modest gains, according to public broadcaster NHK.
Rebuilding support after years of frustration
At 64, Takaichi has quickly revived the LDP’s fortunes after a period marked by public anger over rising prices and political scandals. Once seen as a hardline conservative on the party’s fringe, she has broadened her appeal since becoming Japan’s first female prime minister last October, particularly among younger voters.
Her early months in office featured a $135 billion stimulus package to ease inflation pressures, followed by a campaign pledge to suspend the consumption tax on food. The challenge now is delivery. Japan’s public debt remains more than twice the size of its economy, and record-high bond yields in recent weeks have rattled global markets, raising questions about how far fiscal expansion can go.
Tensions loom beyond Japan’s borders
Takaichi’s strong mandate could also strain relations with China. Known for her hawkish views before taking office, she sparked outrage in Beijing by suggesting Japan might intervene if China attempted to seize Taiwan by force. The comments prompted China to summon Japan’s ambassador, warn its citizens against travel to Japan, and step up military drills with Russia.
As Takaichi begins her full term with unprecedented political backing, she faces a delicate balancing act: stabilising the economy at home while navigating increasingly fraught regional diplomacy abroad.
