As the ruling and opposition parties continue to campaign for the Lower House poll on Feb. 8, a number of post-election scenarios remain possible, all of which could change the balance of power.
For Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who called the election with the aim of securing a public mandate for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and Japan Innovation Party ruling coalition, the key number is 233, which is the simple majority of seats in the 465-seat chamber. Takaichi has said she would resign as prime minister if the LDP and JIP didn’t secure at least that many.
But within this scenario are two other possibilities that would further strengthen Takaichi’s hand in the LDP and over the ruling coalition.
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