Via the Nikkei this morning: Abe needs big margin of victory to retain influence
- The LDP and Komeito held 326 out of 480 seats in the lower house before it was dissolved last month
- Following a slight trim, 475 seats will be up for grabs on December 14
LDP and Komeito leaders have set a joint goal of winning at least 270
- They need 266 seats needed to guarantee majorities on all of the house’s standing committees
- A senior LDP election strategist reckons the party will win in 20 to 30 fewer districts than in 2012, but will pick up more seats determined by proportional representation
- If Komeito manages to maintain its status quo ante of 31 seats, the coalition stands a good chance of taking 270 to 300 seats, give or take a few, says a senior LDP lawmaker.
