Japan’s Prime Minister and chief of the ruling Liberal Democratic Social gathering (LDP) Sanae Takaichi speaks at an election marketing campaign occasion in Tokyo, Japan, on February 7, 2026.
| Picture Credit score: Reuters
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s governing coalition is nearly sure to win a single-party majority in a key parliamentary election on Sunday (February 8, 2026), NHK public tv and different main networks say, citing their exit ballot outcomes.
NHK says Ms. Takaichi’s ruling coalition, led by her Liberal Democratic Social gathering, may win greater than two-thirds of the 465-seat decrease home, the extra highly effective of the nation’s two-chamber parliament.
The massive leap from the pre-election share may enable Ms. Takaichi to make progress on a right-wing agenda that goals to spice up Japan’s financial system and navy capabilities as tensions develop with China, and she or he tries to nurture ties with Washington.
Ms. Takaichi took workplace in October as Japan’s first feminine chief.
Ms. Takaichi is vastly in style, however the ruling Liberal Democratic Social gathering, which has ruled Japan for many of the final seven a long time, has struggled with funding and non secular scandals. She known as Sunday’s (February 8) snap elections solely after three months in workplace, hoping to show that round earlier than her recognition fades.
She needs to make progress on a right-wing agenda that goals to spice up Japan’s financial system and navy capabilities as tensions develop with China. She additionally needs to nurture ties along with her essential U.S. ally, and a sometimes-unpredictable President Donald Trump.
Standard chief poised to win huge
The ultraconservative Ms. Takaichi, who took workplace as Japan’s first feminine chief in October, pledged to “work, work, work,” and her type, which is seen as each playful and hard, has resonated with youthful followers.
The most recent surveys indicated a landslide win within the decrease home for the LDP. The opposition, regardless of the formation of a brand new centrist alliance and a rising far-right, is seen as too splintered to be an actual challenger.
Ms. Takaichi guess that her LDP occasion, along with its new associate, the Japan Innovation Social gathering, would safe a majority within the 465-seat decrease home, the extra highly effective of Japan’s two-chamber parliament.
If the LDP fails to win a majority, “I’ll step down,” she mentioned.
Printed – February 08, 2026 05:17 pm IST