MNI BRIEF: Japan's LDP Wins Majority, Plans Stimulus Package

Japan's Liberal Democratic Party headed by Fumio Kishida got 261 seats out of 465 seats by losing 12 seats at the Sunday's election but the LDP secured a sole majority in the lower house, local media reported on Monday.

Prime Minister Kishida will rush to restart the economy with stimulus spending plans to be unveiled as early as this month while preparing for the next surge in COVID-19 infections. The prime minister is considering resumption of a domestic travel subsidy programme with some modifications and promised to compile a supplementary budget by the end of this year.

The coalition including partner Komeito got 293 seats compared to 172 seats for the opposition, meaning that the ruling party (LDP and New Komeito) gained the two thirds majority needed to propose constitutional amendments.