Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party has scored a decisive win in a snap election, handing Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi a strong mandate and a rare supermajority in the lower house after a high-risk political gamble.
Japan’s conservative prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, has secured a landslide victory after calling a high-risk snap election.
Takaichi, who took office in October after being elected leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), crossed the 310-seat threshold needed for a supermajority in the 465-member lower house, according to Japan’s public broadcaster NHK, citing the official vote count on Sunday evening. A supermajority allows the government to override the upper house, where the LDP does not hold a majority.
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Earlier on Sunday, NHK exit polls projected the LDP would win between 274 and 326 seats. Together with coalition partner Ishin, the alliance was expected to secure between 302 and 366 seats, with voters turning out despite freezing temperatures in the rare winter election.
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The far-right Sanseito party, which campaigns on a “Japanese first” platform, was projected to win up to 14 seats. While this would mark a sharp increase in its presence, it would still fall short of the 30 seats the party had aimed for.
Addressing supporters at the LDP headquarters as results came in, Takaichi said the coalition with Ishin would continue. She added that her government would prioritise fiscal sustainability and that no major cabinet reshuffle was planned.
In keeping with Japanese tradition, winning candidates are marked with paper flowers, and the scale of the LDP’s victory was reflected in a backdrop of red paper roses behind Takaichi.
Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te was among the first international leaders to congratulate her, saying he looked forward to promoting peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. In a post on X, Lai said he hoped the victory would bring a more secure and prosperous future for Japan and its regional partners.
Takaichi has taken a firm stance on Taiwan, previously sparking tensions with China after suggesting that a potential Chinese attack on the island