Tokyo, February 8, 2026 – The Europe Today: Japan’s governing party led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi secured a sweeping majority in a key parliamentary election on Sunday, according to preliminary results reported by Japanese media.
In a televised interview with public broadcaster NHK, Prime Minister Takaichi said she is now prepared to push ahead with her policy agenda following the decisive outcome.
NHK, citing early vote counts, reported that Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) won 271 seats on its own, comfortably surpassing the 261-seat threshold required for an absolute majority in the 465-member House of Representatives, the more powerful chamber of Japan’s bicameral parliament.
Scenes from the LDP headquarters showed a smiling Takaichi placing red ribbons next to the names of victorious candidates on a signboard, as senior party officials applauded the results.
Although the LDP does not command a majority in the upper house, the strong gains in the lower house mark a significant increase from its pre-election position. The result is expected to give Takaichi greater room to advance a right-leaning agenda focused on revitalizing Japan’s economy and strengthening its defense capabilities amid rising regional tensions with China, while also seeking to reinforce ties with the United States.
Speaking after the results, Takaichi said she would firmly pursue her policy goals while remaining open to dialogue with opposition parties. “I will be flexible,” she said.
Takaichi, who remains highly popular with voters, called the early election just three months into her term. The LDP, which has governed Japan for most of the past seven decades, has faced challenges in recent years due to funding and religious scandals. The prime minister sought to capitalize on her strong public support to consolidate her mandate and stabilize the party’s position.
