Japan Ruling LDP Claims Historic Win in Lower House Election

Tokyo, Feb. 9 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party secured a historic landslide victory in Sunday’s House of Representatives election, winning 316 seats to occupy a standalone two-thirds majority of the 465 seats in the all-important lower chamber of parliament. This marked the first time in Japan’s postwar history that a single party has secured a two-thirds majority in the Lower House. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, president of the LDP, is all but certain to be renamed as prime minister at a special parliamentary session to be convened as early as next week and will form her second cabinet. The LDP overwhelmingly attained a so-called absolute stable majority, which means that the party will occupy all posts of chairman at the Lower House’s 17 standing committees and command a majority in all committees. Meanwhile, the opposition Centrist Reform Alliance suffered a crushing defeat, losing more than half of its seats from the pre-election tally of 172. Its co-leader Yoshihiko Noda expressed his intention to resign, taking responsibility for the defeat. Combined with the Japan Innovation Party, the LDP’s coalition partner, a massive ruling coalition with 352 members in the Lower House has emerged. The LDP’s seat count surpassed the previous record of 300 set in 1986 and the 308 seats won by the now-defunct Democratic Party of Japan in 2009. A two-thirds majority in the chamber will allow the ruling camp to enact bills that are voted down in the House of Councillors, the upper chamber, in which the LDP and the JIP are a minority. The coalition will also be able to propose a revision to the Constitution. Taking the victory as a mandate for her administration, Takaichi is expected to swiftly implement her key policies, such as her proactive yet responsible fiscal policy and the strengthening of national security. In a television program Sunday night, Takaichi indicated her plan to speed up efforts to consider a consumption tax reduction in a suprapartisan national congress to be established. In the election, the LDP advocated reducing the consumption tax on food to zero for two years. “I am not thinking about ramming the consumption tax cut through with just the LDP,” she added. Takaichi said that there would be “no major changes” in the LDP’s leadership team or cabinet members following the election. The Centrist Reform Alliance, formed by the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Komeito right before the dissolution of the Lower House, was unable to expand its support despite slamming the LDP for its endorsement of candidates involved in a high-profile slush funds scandal. Co-chief Noda said, “I will take the will of the people solemnly and humbly.” The JIP suffered one defeat to the LDP in the 19 single-seat constituencies in its home prefecture of Osaka, after taking them all in the previous Lower House election in 2024. The Democratic Party for the People won eight seats in single-seat districts, surpassing the 7 seats won by the new centrist party. Sanseito significantly increased its seats and Team Mirai also fared strongly. The Japanese Communist Party, Reiwa Shinsengumi and the Tax Cuts Japan & Patriotic Alliance struggled. The Japan Conservative Party of Japan and the Social Democratic Party failed to win any seats. It was the first national election since Takaichi’s LDP formed a coalition with the JIP last October, after Komeito ended its 26-year partnership with the main ruling party. In the first Lower House race since October 2024, 1,284 candidates competed for the chamber’s seats, comprising 289 for single-seat constituencies and 176 under the proportional representation system. Voter turnout came to 56.26 pct, the fifth lowest since the end of World War II. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]