Japan PM set to keep his majority
JAPANESE prime minister Fumio Kishida’s governing coalition is expected to keep a majority in a parliamentary election but will lose some seats in a setback for his weeks-old government grappling with a coronavirus-battered economy and regional security challenges, according to exit polls.
Mr Kishida’s Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner Komeito together were expected to win between 239 to 288 seats in the 465-member lower house, the more powerful of Japan’s two-chamber Diet.
The LDP alone was expected to win 212-253 seats, with Komeito gaining 27-35 seats, according to the projections.
Combined, it will exceed a parliamentary majority of 233, a loss from 305 seats previously.