Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party has likely strengthened its majority in the country’s Lower House, with the LDP capturing between 274 and 328 in the 465 seat chamber, according to an early projection by broadcaster NHK.
This was broadly in line with what polls had suggested, with Nikkei and Asahi Shimbun predicting that the LDP and its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party would secure more then 300 seats in the Lower House.
NHK projected the coalition would win up to win up to 366 seats.
People trudged through heavy snow in several parts of the country to cast their votes.
Before parliament was dissolved, the LDP-JIP coalition held a combined 230 seats, and with three independents voting with the LDP, this effectively gave the ruling coalition a one seat majority in the chamber.
