Japan: After Elections, the Prime Minister Preserves Power

The path is clear for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to pursue his ambitious reform agenda. His ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and coalition partner Komeito won 313 of the 465 contested seats in the lower house of parliament in Oct. 22 snap elections, securing a supermajority. Rising momentum behind the opposition, ongoing scandals surrounding Abe, and other internal and external obstacles ahead of the elections had threatened to challenge the prime minister's control of the government. But the opposition ultimately lacked a coherent platform, guaranteeing the ruling coalition's victory....