Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's party achieved a massive election victory, securing a two-thirds supermajority in the lower house. This win empowers her to pursue sweeping conservative reforms in security, immigration, economic, and social policies, marking a significant shift in Japan's political landscape.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's political gamble paid off handsomely as her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), along with its new ally the Japan Innovation Party, secured a two-thirds supermajority in parliamentary elections. The LDP alone won 316 seats, a record since its 1955 foundation, comfortably surpassing the 261-seat absolute majority in the 465-member lower house. This significant win, achieved after Takaichi called an early election just three months into her term to capitalize on her personal popularity, grants her the power to push through a conservative legislative agenda. Takaichi, Japan's first female leader who took office in October, plans to reappoint her Cabinet, advance a delayed budget, and will be reelected as prime minister next week. Her policies aim to make Japan strong and prosperous, focusing on boosting the economy and military capabilities amid rising tensions with China, while nurturing ties with the United States. Key policy goals include revising security and defense policies to bolster offensive military capabilities, lifting a ban on weapons exports, increasing defense spending, and moving away from postwar pacifist principles. She also advocates for tougher policies on immigration, including stricter requirements for foreign property owners and a cap on foreign residents, and anti-espionage measures. Despite the LDP's recent funding and religious scandals, Takaichi's 'playful and tough' style has resonated with younger voters. The opposition remained splintered, with a new centrist alliance projected to lose half its pre-election share. The victory has been welcomed by some who feel the LDP had become too liberal, with U.S. President Donald Trump congratulating Takaichi on a 'LANDSLIDE Victory.' While Takaichi seeks support for her potentially divisive policies, she now has until 2028 without another election to implement them. Her rightward shift raises concerns for countries like South Korea regarding Japan's military buildup and potential constitutional revisions, despite shared concerns over North Korea and China.
