Japan's first woman PM Sanae Takaichi wins resounding mandate in winter snap polls
Sanae Takaichi was projected to deliver as many as 328 of the 465 seats in parliament's lower house for her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
Japan Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's ruling coalition swept to a landslide victory in a key early election held on Sunday. Citing results of initial vote counts, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported that her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) alone secured 271 seats, crossing a 261-seat absolute majority mark in the 465-member lower house of the Japanese parliament.
Takaichi, who has the rare distinction of being the first woman PM of Japan and also the first woman head of the LDP, was projected to deliver as many as 328 of the 465 seats in parliament's lower house for her party. The ruling party alone sailed past the 233 seats needed for a simple majority less than two hours after polls closed, on track for one of its best ever election results.
The LDP, together with its alliance partner Japan Innovation Party (known as Ishin), now commands a supermajority of two-thirds of seats in the lower chamber of parliament. Sunday's resounding mandate has eased Takaichi's legislative agenda as she can now override the upper house, which she does not control.
Sending warm wishes over the poll result, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed confidence that India-Japan bilateral ties will reach "greater heights" under the Japanese PM's leadership.
Posting on X, he wrote, "Congratulations Sanae Takaichi on your landmark victory in the elections to the House of Representatives! Our Special Strategic and Global Partnership plays a vital role in enhancing global peace, stability and prosperity."
He added, "I am confident that under your able leadership, we will continue to take the India-Japan friendship to greater heights."
Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent praised Takaichi as a great ally, noting her endorsement by President Donald Trump. "She is a great ally, great relationship with the president," Bessent said in an interview.
He further said, "And when Japan is strong, the US is strong in Asia." Though the conservative Takaichi is hugely popular in Japan, the LDP, which has ruled the Asian country for most of the last seven decades, has struggled with funding and religious scandals in recent years.
Japan Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's ruling coalition swept to a landslide victory in a key early election held on Sunday. Citing results of initial vote counts, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported that her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) alone secured 271 seats, crossing a 261-seat absolute majority mark in the 465-member lower house of the Japanese parliament.
Takaichi, who has the rare distinction of being the first woman PM of Japan and also the first woman head of the LDP, was projected to deliver as many as 328 of the 465 seats in parliament's lower house for her party. The ruling party alone sailed past the 233 seats needed for a simple majority less than two hours after polls closed, on track for one of its best ever election results.
The LDP, together with its alliance partner Japan Innovation Party (known as Ishin), now commands a supermajority of two-thirds of seats in the lower chamber of parliament. Sunday's resounding mandate has eased Takaichi's legislative agenda as she can now override the upper house, which she does not control.
Sending warm wishes over the poll result, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed confidence that India-Japan bilateral ties will reach "greater heights" under the Japanese PM's leadership.
Posting on X, he wrote, "Congratulations Sanae Takaichi on your landmark victory in the elections to the House of Representatives! Our Special Strategic and Global Partnership plays a vital role in enhancing global peace, stability and prosperity."
He added, "I am confident that under your able leadership, we will continue to take the India-Japan friendship to greater heights."
Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent praised Takaichi as a great ally, noting her endorsement by President Donald Trump. "She is a great ally, great relationship with the president," Bessent said in an interview.
He further said, "And when Japan is strong, the US is strong in Asia." Though the conservative Takaichi is hugely popular in Japan, the LDP, which has ruled the Asian country for most of the last seven decades, has struggled with funding and religious scandals in recent years.