LDP Poised for Victory in Japanese Legislative Elections Amidst Takaichi’s Rising Popularity

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, is projected to secure a commanding lead in the results of Japan's legislative elections held today, according to forecasts released by Japanese broadcasters monitoring the counting process. Public broadcaster NHK estimates that the LDP may clinch between 274 and 328 seats, ensuring a majority in the House of Representatives, which comprises a total of 465 seats. This outcome, if confirmed, would be a significant triumph for Takaichi, who had called for early voting to bolster the stability of her government. Takaichi has been in office for approximately three months and opted to dissolve the lower house of parliament, where the governing coalition had maintained a narrow majority. The elections held on Sunday focused exclusively on this branch of parliament, which includes 465 representatives elected through a hybrid system utilizing both majoritarian and proportional representation. Japan’s National Diet also consists of a House of Councillors, akin to a Senate, which is made up of 248 representatives and cannot be dissolved by the government in power. Elections for this house are scheduled for 2028, but its role is largely secondary, as only the House of Representatives possesses the authority to dismiss the government. In the run-up to the elections, polls had predominantly favored the LDP, suggesting a resurgence in its popularity after a challenging period, despite its long-standing dominance in Japanese politics spanning over the last 70 years. The anticipated election results signal a significant shift, largely attributed to Takaichi’s effective communication strategies, which have unexpectedly garnered support even among the youth demographic. Since assuming office, her approval ratings have hovered around an impressive 60-70 percent, a notably high figure that has seen only slight fluctuations in recent weeks following the announcement of early elections amid Japan’s current struggles with high inflation and a declining yen. As of now, the counting process is still ongoing, and final, confirmed data is expected to be available early Monday morning in Japan, which coincides with late Sunday evening in Italy. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2