Ex-PM Suga projected to keep seat in Japan general election

Former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, 72, has secured victory in the Kanagawa No. 2 constituency in the House of Representatives election, beating the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan’s candidate Eiko Okamoto, 57, in a head-to-head contest between the ruling and opposition blocs.

This is Suga’s ninth victory in a general election.

Concerns surrounding the former prime minister’s dwindling unifying abilities have swirled following the loss of a candidate he backed in the August Yokohama mayoral election, but he was able to gain support while campaigning in his home district and traveling across Japan to canvass for other candidates.

(Mainichi)