Ruling party of Fumio Kishida wins comfortable victory in Japanese election

Conservative LDP along with coalition partner Komeito retain control of parliament, defying expectations

Japan's ruling conservative party defied expectations in Sunday's general election, with a comfortable victory that will boost the prime minister, Fumio Kishida, as he attempts to steer the economy out of the coronavirus pandemic.

Kishida's Liberal Democratic party secured 261 seats in the 465-member lower house - the more powerful of Japan's two-chamber Diet - slightly down on its pre-election 276 seats.