MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Japan’s ruling coalition has clung to a majority in the upper house of the national parliament, local media reported Monday.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior coalition partner Komeito gained between themselves 69 seats in the 242-seat House of Councillors, Japan’s Kyodo news agency said.
Japan: Ruling Party Set To Increase Parliament Majority After Elections https://t.co/QUmLNN1XfO
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Half of the seats were up for grabs at Sunday’s parliamentary election in the upper house, where the ruling bloc now has two-thirds of all seats.
Abe’s LDP fell short of winning a simple majority that would have solidified its influence within the coalition, according to the Japanese media outlet. Komeito significantly increased its count by 14 seats from the previous nine.
Japanese media say that Abe’s control of both houses of the national parliament will help him in his bid to revise a constitutional article that prohibits Japan from fighting wars abroad.
