PM Kishida's LDP Secure Gains In Upper House Elections

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has won a strong mandate in elections for the upper chamber of Japan's National Diet, the House of Councillors. Of the 125 seats that were up for election (out of a total of 248), the LDP won 119, an increase of 10. The LDP's coalition ally, the Komeito Party won 27 seats, a loss of one.

• The strong result for the LDP is likely to put to bed any potential challenges to Kishida's leadership of the gov't for the coming years. The next nationwide election is not due until October 2025, giving the PM a significant run of time to implement his policies without having to break to engage in an election campaign.
• As noted in our previous bullet (see 2323BST bullet) the LDP, Komeito, the right-wing libertarian Japan Innovation Party (Ishin) and the centre-right Democratic Party for the People secured in total 177 seats, in excess of the 165 required for a two-thirds supermajority.
• With a two-thirds supermajority a gov't can amend the constitution, subject to approval in a national referendum. While it is not clear that all parties would support the most controversial potential amendment - to Article 9 that would alter Japan's Self-Defense Forces to become a standing army - it is likely to reopen the debate around the issue.
• The Article 9 debate began in earnest under a previous LDP prime minister, the late Shinzo Abe who was assassinated in the city of Nara on Friday.