Japan’s Takaichi tipped to secure decisive mandate in snap election

Voters in Japan are to elect a new lower house of Parliament on Sunday, with polls indicating a clear victory for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of right-wing Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who took office just over three months ago.

This means that the LDP could regain its absolute majority in the powerful 465-member chamber of the National Diet.

The party, which has ruled almost continuously since 1955, lost its majority in both houses of the Diet in previous elections in 2024 and 2025.

According to polls, it could even achieve a two-thirds majority with its new partner, the neo-liberal Ishin (Japan Innovation Party), in the lower house after Sunday’s election.

Polling stations are to close at 8 pm (1100 GMT), with first trend reports from Japanese media based on voter surveys expected shortly after.

However, winter weather is a major factor of uncertainty, as heavy snowfall could hamper voting.

Takaichi, 64, was elected as the first female prime minister at the end of October. She enjoys very high poll ratings and took the opposition by surprise by quickly calling the snap election in order to secure a majority.

The largest opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, and the LDP’s long-standing partner Komeito hastily joined forces to form the new Centrist Reform Alliance.

The party portrays itself as a liberal alternative to the right-wing Takaichi. Polls predict that it will suffer significant losses.