Fumio Kishida was re-elected Prime Minister of Japan on Wednesday after his ruling party won a landslide victory in key parliamentary elections.

Kishida, who was elected by parliament just over a month ago, called a snap election in which his ruling party secured 261 seats in the 465-member lower house — the more powerful of Japan’s two-chamber legislature — enough to maintain a free hand in pushing legislation through parliament.

The victory on Oct. 31 strengthens his grip on power and is viewed as a mandate from voters for his new government to address the pandemic-ravaged economy, virus measures, and other challenges.

He will form his second Cabinet later Wednesday.