Abe’s ruling bloc set to win majority

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling coalition is on course to grab a solid majority in Japan's upper house elections this month and cement his premiership, local media reported yesterday. Abe's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner Komeito are forecast to win more than 63 seats, or a majority of the 124 seats contested in the July 21 election, Kyodo News said in its opinion poll. The ruling parties "stand a good chance of reaching 77," said Kyodo, which conducted the poll on Thursday and Friday.