Japan’s ruling bloc on track to maintain upper house majority

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner are expected to win 63 of the 124 seats up for grabs

Abe has sought an endorsement of ‘political stability’ to pursue his policy goals, including long-envisioned constitutional reform

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Election officers count votes at a ballot counting centre in Tokyo. Photo: Reuters

Published: 9:00pm, 21 Jul 2019Updated: 11:10pm, 21 Jul 2019

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling coalition appears certain to win more than half of the contested seats in Sunday’s upper house election, holding on to its majority in the less powerful of Japan’s two parliamentary chambers.

The Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner Komeito are expected to win at least 63 of the 124 seats up for grabs in the House of Councillors, according to exit polls, crossing the line set by senior party executives for determining victory.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe enters the headquarters of his Liberal Democratic Party in Tokyo on Sunday. Photo: AP

During the 17-day election campaign, Abe sought an endorsement of “political stability” to pursue his policy goals, including long-envisioned constitutional reform.

As he aims to amend the country’s pacifist constitution for the first time, the focus was on whether the ruling bloc and pro-amendment forces can maintain a two-thirds majority in the upper house, a prerequisite for any amendment. But it was unclear from the exit polls whether the pro-revision camp can retain its majority.

With 370 candidates vying for the 124 seats, 74 will be chosen in specific districts and 50 through proportional representation. The election was held as the six-year term for half of the upper house members expires on July 28.