Japanese Prime Minister Maintains Strong Public Support Ahead of Election

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi continues to enjoy robust public support, according to a weekend poll. According to Jin10, the newly formed opposition party alliance is struggling to resonate with voters, positioning the ruling party favorably for the upcoming House of Representatives election, where it is expected to secure a majority of seats. A victory for Takaichi would strengthen the Liberal Democratic Party's power and facilitate the passage of legislation in the more influential House of Representatives. At the start of her administration, the ruling coalition held only 233 of the 465 seats in the House of Representatives, a slim advantage. A survey by Asahi Shimbun even suggests that the coalition might achieve a two-thirds majority. This outcome would effectively allow Takaichi to override opposition from the Senate, which she does not control. However, uncertainty remains as up to one-third of voters have yet to decide whom they will support. Takaichi is seeking to boost investment and spending to stimulate the economy, temporarily reduce food consumption taxes to alleviate living cost pressures, and adopt a more assertive stance on defense and foreign policy.