Japan's ruling party secures majority in snap election, exit polls show

Exit polls show the Liberal Democratic Party, led by Sanae Takaichi, was on track to win a majority in the lower house after a snap election, and NHK projections suggested the ruling coalition could secure a two‑thirds majority.

Exit polls indicated the Liberal Democratic Party was on course for a large victory in Sunday's snap election. The LDP's surge followed rising support for leader Sanae Takaichi, who became Japan's first female prime minister last year. The party had lacked a majority in the Diet before the vote and faced losses to both left and right in recent years. The snap vote came after tense negotiations that briefly left Takaichi without full coalition backing. Key details: - Exit polls and NHK projections suggested the LDP, together with the Japan Innovation Party, could win more than 310 seats in the lower house, a result that would amount to a two‑thirds majority. - Sanae Takaichi's personal approval ratings rose after she became party leader, and that popularity was cited as a major factor in the party's performance. - Opposition parties formed a Centrist Reform Alliance including Komeito and the Constitutional Democratic Party, but the coalition competed against the LDP and other candidates in many districts and was projected to lose dozens of seats. - Komeito initially said it could not back Takaichi as prime minister, and the Japan Innovation Party later agreed to support the LDP after negotiations in the Diet. - Most observers reported the result would shift the LDP toward a more conservative stance and strengthen Takaichi's influence within the party. Summary: Exit polls reported that the projected majority would give Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi a strong legislative position to pursue campaign priorities such as sales tax cuts, increased defence spending, and heightened investment in high-tech industries. Some analysts and markets reported concern about borrowing and currency effects, and reports said China had limited trade and tourism ties after comments by Ms. Takaichi about Taiwan. Undetermined at this time.