Mr. Abe wins Japan's Senate election

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

The Prime Minister stressed that this victory shows that voters support the government's policies.

According to preliminary results from NHK, the ruling coalition has won at least 65 of the 124 seats. Speaking on television after the preliminary results, Prime Minister Abe affirmed that the sure victory for the ruling coalition shows that voters support his proposal to amend the Constitution.

The Prime Minister also affirmed that the planned increase in consumption tax from 8% to 10% next October is necessary for the social security system, as well as to regain national trust.economy

To push through the plan to amend the Constitution, the ruling coalition and its supporters need to win two-thirds of the seats in the Upper House. However, according to NHK's assessment, Prime Minister Abe's ruling coalition and its supporters do not have the two-thirds majority needed to push through the plan.