Polls open in Japan, LDP likely to achieve majority
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After former PM Shinzo Abe's assassination, the Liberal Democratic Party could see an increase in its majority.
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A voter prepares to cast his ballot in the upper house election in Tokyo, Japan July 10, 2022. (Agencies)
After former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's assassination, voters in Japan are casting their ballots in an upper house election. The current ambiance predicts that the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will see an increase in majority, as per the latest opinion polls.
Abe was Japan's longest-serving prime minister, head of the LDP, and was shot down on Friday while delivering a speech supporting a candidate in a city west of Japan, Nara.
Read more: Suspect killer of former Japan PM admits targeting politician: Police
Fumio Kishida, the current prime minister, along with other Japanese politicians, stressed that what happened will not stand in the way of a democratic process for elections.
“We must never allow violence to suppress speech during elections, which are the foundation of democracy,” Kishida said on Saturday.
Political analysts are saying that the LDP, particularly after the assassination, could be gaining 'sympathy votes.'
“The ruling LDP-Komeito coalition was already on course for a solid victory,” said James Brady, who works at the Teneo consultancy. “A wave of sympathy votes now could boost the margin of victory.”
When Kishida appeared at a campaign event in southwest Tokyo, there was a surge in police and security, in addition to metal detection scanners installed at the entrance, which is unusual.
Election polls opened at 7 am on Sunday, closing at 8 pm - media reported that 15.3% of voters cast absentee ballots.
“In the months ahead, the government is certain to seek to strengthen domestic security,” Brady said. “By undermining the public’s general sense of safety and order, the event could also add further momentum to those key Abe causes like defense build-up and constitutional revision.”
Last week, polls suggested that LDP will be gathering 60 out of 125 seats, compared to the 55 seats it currently holds, which would allow it to maintain the majority along with Komeito - it would take the party 69 seats in the upper house for the LDP to achieve a majority.
