What’s at Stake in Japan’s Snap Election

Polls show that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is on track to win Japan’s Oct. 22 election, putting the 63-year-old on course to keep his job through 2020 and become the longest-serving leader in the country’s history. Victory for Abe would likely prolong the loose monetary policy Japan has deployed to kick-start its economy. It might also open the way for a few more rounds with Abe’s new golf buddy, U.S. President Donald Trump.

Abe’s monetary easing policy is more likely to stay in place while Abe remains at the helm. While his economic program, dubbed Abenomics, hasn’t reached his target of overcoming deflation, the economy has seen six straight quarters of growth and unemployment is less than 3 percent. The Nikkei 225 stock average closed at its highest since 1996 on Oct. 11.