Takaichi’s LDP secures supermajority in Japan snap elections

TOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi strengthened her grip on power after her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) won a decisive victory in Sunday’s snap general election, securing a supermajority in the country’s powerful lower house of parliament.

The ruling LDP captured 316 of the 465 seats in the House of Representatives, far exceeding the 233 seats required for a majority, according to results compiled by public broadcaster NHK. The landslide result gives Takaichi a commanding mandate just months after taking office.

“We have consistently stressed the importance of responsible and proactive fiscal policy,” Takaichi told reporters after media projections confirmed her party’s victory. “We will prioritise the sustainability of fiscal policy. We will ensure necessary investments.”

Despite Takaichi’s personal popularity, the LDP has faced persistent challenges in recent years due to funding irregularities and controversies involving religious groups. The prime minister called the snap election after just three months in office, seeking to reset the party’s political standing and consolidate public support.

One of Takaichi’s key campaign pledges, suspending the eight percent sales tax on food to ease pressure on households amid rising prices, has unsettled investors. Critics have raised concerns over how Japan, which already carries the heaviest debt burden among advanced economies, would finance the proposal.

Nevertheless, voters turned out in large numbers despite harsh winter conditions. Record snowfall in parts of the country disrupted transportation and forced some polling stations to close early.

“It feels like she’s creating a sense of direction, like the whole country pulling together and moving forward,” said Kazushige Cho, 54, speaking to Reuters. “That really resonates with me.”

Others expressed caution. Niigata resident Mineko Mori, 74, said she worried that tax cuts could increase the burden on future generations.

Political analysts say the election outcome gives Takaichi unprecedented leverage in parliament. Craig Mark, a lecturer at Hosei University, said the LDP’s dominance would allow the prime minister to override opposition resistance.

“Essentially, she can push through any legislation she wants, whether it’s the record budget that was recently approved or defence spending,” Mark told Al Jazeera from Tokyo.

He added that the result gives Takaichi her strongest opportunity yet to reshape Japan’s postwar pacifist identity. Japan’s constitution limits its military to self-defense, but Takaichi has signaled a willingness to expand defense capabilities.

Japan’s business community welcomed the outcome as a return to political stability. Yoshinobu Tsutsui, head of the influential Keidanren business lobby, said the economy was at a “critical juncture” for achieving sustainable growth.

The election result is also being closely watched abroad, particularly in China. Weeks after assuming office, Takaichi triggered the most serious diplomatic dispute with Beijing in more than a decade by publicly outlining Japan’s potential response to a Chinese attack on Taiwan.

Analysts say her strengthened mandate could accelerate efforts to bolster Japan’s military posture, a move Beijing has criticized as a revival of Japan’s militaristic past.

“Beijing will not welcome Takaichi’s victory,” said David Boling, principal at the Asia Group, a geopolitical consultancy. “China now faces the reality that she is firmly in place and that its efforts to isolate her completely failed.”

The United States has openly welcomed Takaichi’s victory. Ahead of the vote, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly endorsed the Japanese leader and announced that she would visit the White House on March 19. Trump said the two nations were working toward a “very substantial” trade deal and deepening cooperation on national security.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday described the result as a “big victory,” saying a strong Japan makes the United States “strong in Asia.”

Takaichi thanked Trump for his endorsement, writing on X that she looked forward to visiting Washington and continuing efforts to strengthen the Japan–U.S. alliance.

“Built on deep trust and close, strong cooperation, the potential of our Alliance is LIMITLESS,” she said.

The United States and Japan recorded $317 billion in trade in 2024 and maintain a longstanding security partnership, with about 50,000 U.S. troops stationed in Japan — a cornerstone of Washington’s military presence in the Asia-Pacific region.