sweep to power

小渕優子氏の後任である宮沢洋一経産相の不適切な政治活動費計上と東京電力株600株の保有が明らかになりました。前経済産業相らのダブル辞任に続き，安倍内閣には大きな痛手となります。
sweepはこれまでにもブログで採り上げられてきましたが，sweep to Aで「A〈勝利権力など〉を得る」（『プログレッシブ英和中辞典』小学館）という意味があり，同辞書にはsweep to victory [power]（(選挙で)圧勝する）という用例も挙げられていました。今回の記事も「2012年の衆院選での圧勝」と解釈できます。（Koyamamoto）

cf. http://d.hatena.ne.jp/A30/20140109/1389271638

Minister hit by bar scandal also under fire for owning TEPCO shares
TOKYO — Japan’s new trade and industry minister was under renewed pressure on Friday over his stake in the operator of the Fukushima nuclear plant that he oversees, just a day after admitting his underlings had spent office cash at a sex bar.
Japan’s usually staid political scene has been left reeling from the S&M club scandal and the resignations of two other newly appointed cabinet ministers who quit this week in the wake of misspending accusations.
The double resignations marked the first significant blow to the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe since he swept to power in December 2012.
http://www.japantoday.com/category/politics/view/minister-hit-by-bar-scandal-also-under-fire-for-owning-tepco-shares