NHK Exit Poll for Japan General Election: "LDP and Komeito Regime Maintenance Certain"

Voters in Japan examining general election candidate posters (Photo by Reuters, Tokyo)

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Tae-min] In the Japanese House of Representatives (lower house) general election held on the 31st, it is predicted that the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito will maintain more than the majority of 233 seats.

Japan's NHK broadcast announced immediately after the polls closed at 8 p.m. that exit polls predicted "the LDP and Komeito will secure between 239 and 288 seats." The LDP is expected to win 212 to 253 seats, and its coalition partner Komeito 27 to 35 seats. It remains uncertain whether the LDP alone will secure a majority, which is considered the benchmark for victory in this election.

If the exit poll predictions are accurate, the LDP-Komeito coalition's seats, which accounted for 305 seats (65.6%) out of the total 465 seats, will decrease but the coalition will be maintained. Before the dissolution of the House of Representatives, the LDP held 276 seats (59.4%)?210 constituency seats and 66 proportional representation seats?while Komeito held 29 seats?8 constituency seats and 21 proportional representation seats.

According to NHK exit polls, the main opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party (which held 110 seats before dissolution), is expected to secure 99 to 141 seats. Additionally, the right-wing opposition party Nippon Ishin no Kai (11 seats) is expected to win 34 to 47 seats, the Communist Party (12 seats) 8 to 14 seats, and the Democratic Party for the People (8 seats) 7 to 12 seats.