Landslide win for the LDP
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is projected to have won a decisive victory in Sunday’s snap elections, with her ruling bloc estimated to take roughly 300 of 465 seats in the lower house. If confirmed, this would mark the strongest showing for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) since 2017 under the late Shinzo Abe, Takaichi’s mentor. The win could give the LDP a super-majority, allowing it to govern independently of its junior partner, the Japan Innovation Party (JIP).
LDP Secretary General Shunichi Suzuki said the result reflected voter approval for Takaichi’s fiscal policies and efforts to strengthen national defense. Meanwhile, the main opposition alliance, the Centrist Reform Alliance combining the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) and Komeito, lost more than two-thirds of its seats, while the anti-immigration Sanseito party modestly increased its representation.
Rebuilding trust and economic priorities
At 64, Takaichi has restored significant support for the LDP, which had struggled in previous elections due to rising prices and corruption scandals. Once part of the party’s ultra-conservative wing, the former heavy metal drummer and Thatcher admirer has proven popular with voters, especially the younger generation, since becoming Japan’s first female prime minister last October.
Her administration introduced a $135 billion stimulus package to ease inflationary pressures and campaigned on suspending the consumption tax on food. With Japan’s debt exceeding twice the size of its economy and long-term bond yields reaching record highs, Takaichi now faces pressure to deliver tangible results on economic stability and inflation control.
Rising regional tensions
Takaichi’s victory also raises concerns in Beijing. Within two weeks of taking office, the prime minister—known for her hawkish stance on China—warned that Japan could intervene militarily if Beijing tried to seize Taiwan by force. China responded angrily, summoning Tokyo’s ambassador, issuing travel warnings, conducting joint air drills with Russia, and even reclaiming Japan’s last two pandas.
As Takaichi consolidates power domestically, she will have to navigate a delicate balance between implementing her economic agenda and managing increasingly tense relations with China.
