Japan: Shinzo Abe heads for big election win
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The ruling coalition of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is on track for a big win in the country’s general election.
According to one broadcaster, Abe’s ruling bloc had secured 310 seats, reaching the crucial two-thirds “super majority”.
The final result is expected later on Monday.
The super majority allows for changes to Japan’s pacifist constitution, which restricts the country’s military to a defensive role.
Many on the right of Japanese politics have long opposed the terms imposed after the Second World War.
Abe had argued that he needed a fresh mandate to deal with “national crises” facing Japan, including the threat posed by North Korea.
For the moment, it remains unclear what impact Typhoon Lan had on the vote in terms of turnout. The category 4 storm lashed parts of the country on Sunday as people went to the polls