Japan’s ruling LDP wins big in upper house election after former PM Abe’s death
- Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner Komeito held at least 75 of the 125 upper house seats up for grabs
- ‘I will continue to work hard to protect democracy,’ Kishida said, in reference to the assassination of former leader Shinzo Abe on Friday
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The ex-leaders’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner Komeito strengthened their hold by more than 75 of the 125 upper house seats up for grabs, according to national news outlets.
The parties are part of what is now a two-thirds supermajority willing to amend the country’s pacifist constitution, thereby strengthening its military role on the global stage - a long-time Abe goal.
Even before the former prime minister’s murder, the LDP and Komeito were expected to cement their majority, though the final number of seats will be scrutinised for signs of whether the attack bolstered support for them.
Kishida had insisted the election proceed despite the assassination, saying “we must never allow violence to suppress speech”.
Conceding defeat, Kenta Izumi, leader of the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party, which was projected to have lost several seats, said it was clear “voters did not want to switch from the LDP and entrust us with running the government,” according to Kyodo News.
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Despite the murder, turnout rate for the election remained low at only 52 per cent, national outlets reported.
Local media have described the organisation as religious and said Yamagami’s family had suffered financial trouble as a result of his mother’s donations to the group.
He also reportedly visited the western region of Okayama on Thursday with the intent of killing Abe at a different event, but backed out because participants had to submit their names and addresses.
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The triumphs and tribulations of Japan's former prime minister Shinzo Abe
With little violent crime and tough gun laws, security at Japanese campaign events can be relaxed, though in the wake of Abe’s murder, measures were tightened for Kishida’s remaining appearances.
“Watching the world now, I think every day about how Japan will manage with the situation,” he said.
“This is a democratic country and I despise the use of violence to eliminate someone,” he added when asked about Abe’s murder.
“I strongly believe that if people have disagreements, they should dispute them with dialogue.”
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Police have promised a “thorough investigation” into what the head of the Nara regional police called “problems with guarding and safety measures” for Abe.
“In all the years since I became a police officer in 1995 ... there is no greater remorse, no bigger regret than this,” chief Tomoaki Onizuka tearfully told reporters on Saturday evening.
Abe’s office said that a wake would be held on Monday night, with a funeral for family and close friends only on Tuesday. Local media said both were expected to be held at Tokyo’s Zojoji Temple.
Abe was the scion of a political family and became the country’s youngest post-war prime minister when he took power for the first time in 2006, aged 52.
His hawkish, nationalist views were divisive, particularly his desire to reform Japan’s pacifist constitution to recognise the country’s military, and he weathered a series of scandals, including allegations of cronyism.
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Kishida, 64, was once described as among Abe’s favoured successors, and holds a solid majority in parliament with Komeito.
But he faces significant policy headwinds, including rising prices and energy shortages, particularly after an early summer heatwave that led to a power crunch.
Kishida is expected to reshuffle his cabinet in the coming months.
