Ruling party's election victory gave mandate for policy shifts: Japan PM

TOKYO - Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Monday that the victory of Japan's ruling bloc led by her Liberal Democratic Party in Sunday's House of Representatives election gave a public mandate for "important policy shifts" by her government.

Takaichi told a press conference that Japan needs to depart from its "excessive fiscal austerity" under her "responsible yet aggressive" fiscal policies, while seeking cooperation from opposition parties as the ruling camp remains a minority in the House of Councillors.