TOKYO, Dec. 14 (PNA/Kyodo) — The Liberal Democratic Party will likely secure a majority in Sunday’s lower house election as voters gave Prime Minister Shinzo Abe a fresh mandate to forge ahead with economic and more contentious energy and security policies, according to Kyodo News exit polls and projections.
Abe described the race as a referendum on “Abenomics” — a combination of aggressive monetary easing, fiscal stimulus and growth strategies — to pull the world’s third-largest economy out of years of deflation, as well as his decision to delay a scheduled consumption tax hike until 2017.
During 12 days of campaigning, energy and security issues took a backseat to Abenomics. (PNA/Kyodo)