Japan election: Ruling LDP retains majority - exit polls
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Japan's governing party will retain power after Sunday's general election, exit polls say.
They say PM Fumio Kishida's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has secured more than 233 lower house seats - enough to govern without its coalition partner.
Mr Kishida, 64, became leader of the LPD earlier this month.
The party has dominated Japanese politics for decades but has been criticised for its handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
His predecessor, Yoshihide Suga, stepped down in September after just a year in office. The resignation came amid plummeting poll ratings for the LDP following an unpopular push to continue with the Tokyo Olympics despite public concern about surging Covid-19 rates.
Mr Kishida has long-targeted the prime ministerial role and previously served as the country's foreign minister from 2012 to 2017.
The LDP went into Sunday's general election holding 276 of the the 465 seats up for grabs.
But it is now predicted to get between 258 and 261 seats, while its coalition partner Komeito is on course to secure 32 seats.
However, the LDP's secretary-general Akira Amari looks set to lose his seat and is expected to resign.
Japan's parliament, known as the National Diet, comprises the lower House of Representatives and an upper House of Councillors.
Sunday's vote concerned the more powerful lower house, with an upper house vote set to take place next year.
