Shinzo Abe expected to emerge victorious from Japan’s snap election

PM Shinzo Abe is set to retain his power when Japan goes to the ballot box today in a snap election called a month ago.

A final week poll shows Abe’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) holding a commanding lead of 34% over the left-leaning Constitutional Democratic Party and the populist Party of Hope on 13% and 11% respectively. After its initial popularity, the Party of Hope’s (PoH) support has crashed due in part to its leader, Tokyo mayor Yuriko Koike, not standing for election.

Still, Ms Koike’s party has been the main challenge to Abe in this election. The PoH opposes his proposed sales tax hike from 8% to 10% saying that the resulting spending programmes will drive up debt in the already indebted country. Ms Koike’s “Yurinomics” promises “12 zeroes”, which includes a pledge to end nuclear power generation.

The LDP is expected to romp back into office with a two-thirds majority but if they fall short and the PoH holds the balance of power, the populists will likely frustrate his sales tax plans.

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John Milo

John is a Senior Analyst with an interest in Indo-Pacific geopolitics. Master of International Relations (Australian National University) graduate with study focus on the Indo-Pacific. Qualified lawyer (University of Auckland, NZ) with experience in post-colonial Pacific & NZ legal systems.