Japan's ultra-conservative Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is poised to significantly increase her power after a snap election, according to exit polls released on February 8, 2026. Simultaneously, Israel's security cabinet approved new measures to tighten control over the occupied West Bank, drawing condemnation from Palestinian authorities, and Antonio Jose Seguro of the Socialist Party secured a landslide victory in Portugal's presidential election.
Exit polls indicated that Takaichi's coalition was predicted to win between 302 and 366 of the 465 seats in Japan's lower house, surpassing the 233 needed for a majority, according to national broadcaster NHK (Sky News). This victory, described as a "landslide" by Sky News Asia correspondent Helen-Ann Smith, could potentially reshape Japan and the surrounding region. Smith noted that Takaichi's success was "a one-woman story."
In the Middle East, Israel's security cabinet approved new rules aimed at strengthening Israeli control over the occupied West Bank, as reported by Al Jazeera. The Palestinian presidency called the decision "dangerous." The move comes as the region continues to grapple with the aftermath of Israel's actions in Gaza, with the Al Jazeera Forum discussing the power shifts created by the conflict. A new committee of technocrats is expected to be in charge of Gaza's governance, overseen by the newly formed Board of Peace, headed by US President Donald Trump.
Meanwhile, in Portugal, Antonio Jose Seguro of the centre-left Socialist Party won a five-year term as president in a run-off vote, securing a landslide victory with 66 percent of the votes, according to partial results (Al Jazeera). His far-right rival, Andre Ventura, trailed with 34 percent.
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