Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi wins supermajority in election

Feb. 8 (UPI) — Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s snap election won her Liberal Democratic Party a two-thirds majority in parliament’s lower house.

The shift will enable the LDP to suggest constitutional amendments, CNN reported.

Takaichi, the first woman to helm the country, was selected for her post Oct. 21.

She held the election in the hope she could gain an electoral mandate to more easily further her agenda.

“I wanted the voters to give me a mandate because I advocated for responsible, proactive fiscal policy that would significantly shift economic and fiscal policy,” she said.

Earlier, she’d shared that holding an election would be “putting my position as prime minster on the line.”

But the LDP won over 310 of the 465 in parliament’s lower house.

“May your victory bring a more prosperous and secure future for Japan and its partners in the region,” said Taiwan President Lai Ching-te on X, NBC News reported.

Takaichi had previously said that if China attacked Taiwan, the country should expect military backlash from Japan, triggering China to limit trade with and discourage visits to the country.

Takaichi and U.S. President Donald Trump have a meeting slated for March. He previously praised the prime minister, describing her as “strong, powerful and wise.”