Japan's Ruling Coalition won Majority in Upper House

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling coalition (LDP-New Komeito coalition) won a comfortable majority in Upper House of Parliament. The elections were held on 21 July 2013. Abe's Liberal Democratic Party won 65 seats, while its partner, New Komeito, secured 11 seats. Combined with their 59 seats, the coalition now has 135 seats, six more than the 129 needed for a comfortable majority.

This will give Abe control of both houses of parliament for the first time in six years. Abe’s win will help him form a stable cabinet, ending political volatility. The result is an endorsement of his more conservative economic and political reforms known as Abenomics programme. With majority in both houses of Parliament, it would be easy for Abe government to pass legislation.

Shinzo Abe had lost upper house elections in 2007 during his previous stint as Prime Minister of Japan.