Japan’s prime minister Fumio Kishida has declared victory for his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), a big win for Mr Kishida, who only became PM a month ago.
The LDP now holds 261 seats, exceeding the parliamentary majority of 233 seats. With Komeito scoring 32 seats, it gives their coalition a total of 293 seats.
The LDP had been heavily criticised for its handling of the pandemic. Kishida’s predecessor Yoshihide Suga quit after just a year in office after his unpopular decision to continue with the Tokyo Olympics despite public concern.
Kishida, 64, had long-targeted the prime ministerial role and previously served as the country’s foreign minister from 2012 to 2017.
Japan’s parliament, known as the National Diet, comprises the lower House of Representatives and an upper House of Councillors.
Sunday’s vote concerned the more powerful lower house, with an upper house vote set to take place next year.
On Monday, Japan’s Nikkei 225 benchmark share index closed 2.6% higher, as investors bet that the LDP’s outright majority means that Mr Kishida’s economic stimulus plans will pass smoothly through parliament.
Before the election Mr Kishida had promised to spend trillions of yen to help support the world’s third largest economy in the wake of the pandemic.
He had on Sunday night told national broadcaster NHK that he planned an extra budget before the end of this year.
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