Daijiworld Media Network - Tokyo

Tokyo, Feb 9: Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Monday moved swiftly to consolidate her authority after leading her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to a historic landslide victory in parliamentary elections, securing a two-thirds supermajority in the powerful lower house.

Takaichi, who took office as Japan’s first female prime minister in October, is expected to reappoint her Cabinet, push through a delayed budget and prepare for parliamentary votes next week that will formally re-elect her as prime minister. She said the mandate would be used to make Japan “strong and prosperous”.

According to public broadcaster NHK, the LDP alone won 316 seats in the 465-member lower house, comfortably surpassing the 261-seat absolute majority and marking the party’s best-ever performance since its formation in 1955. Along with its new ally, the Japan Innovation Party, which secured 36 seats, the ruling coalition now controls 352 seats.

Celebrations were seen at LDP headquarters, where a smiling Takaichi placed red ribbons next to the names of winning candidates as party leaders applauded.

Despite lacking a majority in the upper house, the overwhelming lower house mandate gives Takaichi significant leverage to advance policies aimed at boosting Japan’s economy and strengthening its military amid rising regional tensions, particularly with China. She said she would seek opposition cooperation while firmly pushing ahead with her agenda, adding, “I will be flexible.”

The prime minister had called an early election just three months into office, betting that her personal popularity could revive the scandal-hit LDP, which has faced funding and religious controversies in recent years. Her gamble paid off handsomely, with younger voters in particular responding to her mix of tough conservatism and energetic leadership.

The opposition, despite forming new alliances, failed to mount a serious challenge. The centrist bloc involving Komeito and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan is projected to lose nearly half of its earlier strength, while far-right groups such as the nationalist Sanseito are expected to make gains.

U.S. President Donald Trump congratulated Takaichi on social media, calling her victory a “landslide” and praising her decision to call early elections.

Takaichi’s immediate priority will be passing a budget bill delayed by the polls, aimed at addressing rising living costs and stagnant wages. She has also pledged to revise Japan’s security and defence policies by December, including lifting restrictions on weapons exports and expanding offensive military capabilities, a significant shift from the country’s postwar pacifist stance.

Her agenda also includes stricter immigration rules, tougher anti-espionage laws and increased defence spending, in line with U.S. pressure for Japan to shoulder a greater security burden. Critics, however, warn that some of these measures could undermine civil rights and strain regional relations.

With no national election due until 2028, Takaichi now has a clear window to pursue her ambitious and often divisive conservative reforms.