Last Sunday on October 24^th, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) called for a snap election in which he virtually decimated his opponents with a ruling coalition that won over two-thirds of the Japanese parliament. This strategic victory places Abe on track for being crowned Japan’s longest post-war incumbent as Prime-Minister, and the win is an integral part of Abe’s vision for Japan.

The decision of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to call a snap election was a strategic move for the LDP, as the election hit while the political opposition was tangled in a web of disorganization. Opposing parties such as the Conservative Party of Hope–that of Yuriko Koike, governor of Tokyo–barely made an imprint on the LDP’s victory. When asked about the election results on an official trip to Paris, Koike stated that "I had expected Hope to serve as a rallying point to counter (Abe's) continued predominance in power. Regrettably, the party has become a target of criticism instead.” Koike also stated that Japan’s decision was “a very harsh verdict for my party,” and that she and the Party of Hope will “analyze the reason for the defeat”. In the meantime, Abe has made his political program clear.

Abe’s immediate agenda is to alter Japan’s pacifist perspective and deal with the impending threat of North Korea, as well as to amend the constitution by 2020. Additionally, on Abe’s itinerary is to meet with US President Donald Trump during his first trip to Asia in the upcoming month. Abe places an enormous emphasis on his relationship with the US President, and he was the first foreign leader to convene with Trump while he was President-elect. Furthermore, the two world leaders relate strongly in their opposition to North Korea and the nation’s missile and nuclear testing.

Abe’s securement of a “super majority” in parliament will enable the prime minister to amend Japan’s pacifist constitution and press towards the agenda of eliminating the threat of North Korea. This alteration to the constitution serves as a major source of controversy, as it would renounce a war clause, Article 9, and instead recognize Japan’s armed forces. Though this amendment serves as a point of contention, Abe nonetheless stated in an interview with NHK that he would go through with the amendment, substantiating that, “The ruling parties have been granted a majority. I think it was the people’s voice telling us to make progress in politics and bring results with a stable political base.”

When it comes to Japan’s post-war politics, the LDP has been prominent in that arena. Abe’s leadership has been seen by many Japanese voters as a source of stability, as he returned as Prime Minister in 2012 after a series of less-stable short-term governments. Though there seems to be much contentment surrounding Abe’s re-election, professor of political science at Sophia University, Koichi Nakano, says it is not entirely so. Nakano believes that Abe did not win “because people enthusiastically support him. People are disaffected and the opposition is divided." An older voter named Koizumi who cast her ballet for the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) brought up the fact that using the fear of North Korea was a strategy that helped Abe secure his seat as Japan’s Prime Minister. Additionally, another voter by the name of Hiroki Shinohara stated that“I don’t particularly support Abe, but I do support the LDP. I feel it’s doing what’s right for Japan, and Japan needs it.”

As a result of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s quick and tactful thinking, the LDP leader has been able to safely secure his seat in the Japanese Parliament, and it can be expected that Abe’s victory will transform Japan from a pacifist nation to a not-to-mess-with hardliner against North Korea.