Japan’s LDP wins big in Upper House election after Abe’s assassination

Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner won a convincing majority in the Upper House of Parliament in an election on Sunday (July 10), two days after former prime minister Shinzo Abe was killed at a campaign rally.

The LDP and its junior coalition partner Komeito won 76 seats, results from national public broadcaster NHK showed early on Monday.

This was well above the 56 seats they needed to retain their majority and the 69 seats they needed to increase their size in the body.

Japanese stocks climbed on Monday, with the Topix Index gaining as much as 1.6 percent, in line with gains after each of the past three upper house elections where the ruling coalition retained a majority.

Upper House lawmakers serve six-year terms, with elections held every three years for half of the 248-seat chamber. There were 545 candidates in Sunday’s poll, which included one seat to fill a vacancy.

A record 35 women were elected this time, according to the Tokyo Shimbun newspaper, compared with 28 in the last upper house election.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, speaking at the LDP headquarters on Sunday night, said there was “major significance” in successfully holding an election just two days after Mr Abe’s assassination.

“It is proof that we will not bow down to terrorism,” he said, having earlier observed one minute of silence in memory of Mr Abe, 67.

The resounding mandate will allow Mr Kishida to follow through on his policy pledges, including creating a “new form of capitalism” and doubling Japan’s defence spending.

SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES