Takaichi is on her way to a landslide victory in the elections

The ruling coalition of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is poised for a landslide victory in Sunday's lower house elections, opinion polls show. This move could shake financial markets and accelerate the building of defenses aimed at countering China.

According to public television, Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, could win up to 366 of the 465 seats in the chamber, an overwhelming majority that would facilitate its legislative agenda.

The LDP itself is expected to win up to 328 seats, which would be its best result since 1996, when the current electoral system was adopted.

Japan's first female prime minister, 64-year-old Takaichi, called these early elections to capitalize on her high personal popularity since she was elected LDP leader at the end of last year.

Voters are attracted to her straightforward and hard-working image. On the other hand, her nationalist tendencies and emphasis on security have strained relations with China, while her promises to cut taxes have shaken financial markets.

(reuters, mja)