Oct 23 (NHK) - Voters across Japan have given Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, Komeito, enough seats to maintain a two-thirds majority in the Lower House.
It's an important benchmark that gives them strong power in terms of passing legislation, and in the process to amend the Constitution.
With this mandate, the coalition will be able to resurrect any bills that have been killed by the Upper House, although it's unlikely it will need that power at this point because the parties currently control that chamber too.
One of the key issues Abe campaigned on was amending the constitution to include Japan's Self-Defense Forces. But the LDP's governing coalition partner, Komeito, is more cautious about this process.
Japan's post-war Constitution has not been altered since it was created more than 70 years ago. Two-thirds support in both houses is needed to put a constitutional amendment proposal to a national referendum.
Source: ANNnewsCH
