Japan's LDP wins majority in poll held post Shinzo Abe's assassination
Tokyo (Japan), July 11: In an election held just two days after the assassination of Japan's former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)-Komeito coalition won 76 seats and retained the majority in the Upper House elections, according to local media.
Abe was gunned down in western Japan's Nara city on Friday when he was delivering a campaign speech.
According to The Japan Times, on Sunday night, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and other LDP executives appeared before the media, wearing black ties and dresses along with mourning ribbons, holding a moment of silence for Abe.
Even as the Prime Minister placed pink flowers by the names of victorious candidates, there was no smile on his face. Addressing a press conference, Kishida said, "Violence threatened the electoral process, the very foundation of our democracy." "I was determined to go through with this election at all costs," he stated.
According to media reports, after his resounding victory, Kishida will have three years to advance his political agenda without having to run for office again.
The Prime Minister now faces questions like where he will direct his political capital: his flagship "new capitalism" fiscal initiatives aimed at the redistribution of wealth; diplomacy and national security; or toward inflation and other economic issues, which emerged as top voter concerns ahead of the election, The Japan Times stated.
"I am determined to achieve results as part of my 'new capitalism' economic model, which is aimed primarily at revitalizing the economy," Kishida further added. "At the same time, I will take a step-by-step approach to continue our work on diplomacy, security and constitutional revision," he said.
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The Japan Times reported that after nine months in office, and having faced both the omicron wave of the Covid-19 pandemic and the fallout from the war in Ukraine, Sunday's victory is likely to mark a new beginning for Kishida's administration.
Furthermore, the LDP leader stated that he is considering when to hold a Cabinet reshuffle after the election. According to media reports, he might execute it in September.
The parties' major goal was to deal with rising prices, boost the economy, and discuss their stances on the issue of Japan strengthening its defence capabilities while taking into account the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and its economic repercussions.
The turnout for the Upper House election this year was 52.05%, which is higher than the turnout for the Upper House election in 2019 but the second-lowest on record.
The official 17-day campaign period ended on Saturday with about 20 million people cast early votes, breaking previous records, according to the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry.
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-PTC News
