VOTING UNDER WAY IN JAPAN GENERAL ELECTION AS TAKAICHI SEEKS MANDATE

TOKYO, Feb 8 (Bernama-Kyodo) -- Voting got under way across Japan on Sunday for a general election, as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi seeks a public mandate to advance her economic and security policies with her Liberal Democratic Party's new coalition ally.

With heavy snowfall in wide areas feared to affect voter turnout, Takaichi aims to capitalise on her personal popularity to secure a majority for the LDP-led coalition with the Japan Innovation Party in the 465-member House of Representatives, Kyodo News reported.

Takaichi, who became Japan's first female prime minister last October, has pledged to "immediately resign" as Japan's leader if the coalition fails to secure a majority in the powerful lower chamber.

Nearly 1,300 candidates are vying for the 465 seats, which consist of 289 in single-seat constituencies and 176 through proportional representation, where seats are allocated for parties based on how many votes they get in 11 regional blocs across Japan.

Accoding to Kyodo, while Takaichi’s Cabinet enjoys high support ratings, the ruling bloc had only a razor-thin majority with the support of some independents in the lower house before it was dissolved late last month.

Even if the ruling bloc manages to meet its target of securing a majority in the lower house, it still faces hurdles in the House of Councillors, or the upper house, where it remains a minority, meaning that opposition party support is critical in passing bills, it added.

Media polls have pointed to the ruling camp's expanding lead over the opposition. Prior to the election, the LDP had 198 seats and the JIP held 34, while the Centrist Reform Alliance had 167.

-- BERNAMA-KYODO