Shinzo Abe Wins Japanese General Elections; Coalition Retains ‘Supermajority’

Incumbent Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe swept to a resounding victory in the snap election held on Sunday (22 July), retaining his position with a mandate to replenish the world’s third largest economy.

Abe’s conservative coalition was predicted to capture 311 seats in the 465-member parliament, according to a survey by TBS, setting the course for him to become Japan’s longest-serving leader.

The landslide victory is likely to harden Abe’s resolve to tackle the threat posed by nuclear weapon-totting North Korea as the island nations seeks to exert pressure on Pyongyang after two missiles were fired over Japan in the space of a month.

Abe was heading for a “landslide win”, the reported the Yomiuri daily on its website, as the premier’s gamble to hold a snap election seemed to be paying off. It was, however unclear immediately after the election if the coalition would retain its two-thirds “supermajority,” requiring 310 seats.

A “supermajority” would allow Abe to propose changes to Japan’s US-imposed constitution that forces it to renounce war and effectively reduces its military to a self- defence role. Millions of Japanese voters braved torrential rain and driving winds to vote as a typhoon bears down on the country, with many heeding warnings to cast their ballots early.