Donald Trump has lauded Japan’s “Iron Lady” Prime Minister after she secured an overwhelming election victory.PM Sanae Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party won 316 seats in the Japanese Parliament’s lower house after a snap election this week.Mr Trump gave his congratulations to Mrs Takaichi – whom he had earlier endorsed – in a social media post.Addressing the Japanese PM directly, the President said: “It was my honour to endorse you and your coalition.
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“I wish you great success in passing your conservative, peace through strength agenda.He added that Mrs Takaichi’s decision to call an election was “bold and wise”.With coalition partner Japan Innovation Party, she now leads 352 seats and a supermajority in Japan’s legislature – the first of its kind since the Second World War.Mrs Takaichi, 64, called a winter snap election in a gamble to boost her majority after high personal approval ratings.”This election involved major policy shifts — particularly a major shift in economic and fiscal policy, as well as strengthening security policy,” said Mrs Takaichi as the results rolled in.She added: “These are policies that have drawn a great deal of opposition… If we have received the public’s support, then we truly must tackle these issues with all our strength.”Voters tackled record snowfall to cast their votes, with some polling stations closing early and 37 train lines closed.Winter elections are a rarity in Japan, with this being only the third post-war election held in February.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:Donald Trump issues message to America as he misses Super Bowl after blasting ‘terrible choices”I did not see it!’ Donald Trump refuses to apologise over controversial Obama social media videoJapan’s cherry blossom festival cancelled over unruly tourist ‘crisis’Kazushige Cho, 54, walked through deep snow and below-freezing temperatures in the mountainous Niigata prefecture to cast his vote.He said: “It feels like she’s creating a sense of direction – like the whole country is pulling together and moving forward.”Mrs Takaichi sees Margaret Thatcher as a personal idol – and like the “Iron Lady”, is her country’s first female Prime Minister.The future PM met Baroness Thatcher at a symposium shortly before her death in 2013.She has been vocal in her criticism of China, and suggested this year that Japan could form a “quasi-security alliance” with Taiwan against Beijing.Weeks after taking office, she sparked Chinese fury by publicly outlining how Tokyo might respond to an attack on Taiwan.China responded with several countermeasures, including urging its citizens not to travel to Japan.And like Mr Trump, Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te congratulated her after her victory – and said he hoped her election would bring a prosperous future for Japan’s partners.At home, the 64-year-old has been popular with younger voters due to her straight-talking nature and social media presence.Clips of her daily life and political activities are regularly shared to Japanese citizens.She sparked a craze in Japan known as “sanakatsu”, which roughly translated is “Sanae-mania”.Her handbag and pink pen have both been in high demand with young Japanese people.
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