Japan’s coalition loss signals political shake-up for prime minister Ishiba
Japan’s ruling coalition lost its majority in parliament in a snap election held Sunday. The election outcome, widely seen as a public rebuke over issues like inflation and corruption, marks the Liberal Democratic Party’s worst result in more than a decade.
The election loss is a significant blow to prime minister Shigeru Ishiba. He had called the snap election less than a month ago, when he assumed leadership, in an attempt to gain a mandate and restore public confidence. However, the strategy appears to have backfired, with voters voicing discontent over a series of scandals and rising living costs.
Despite the outcome, Ishiba has said he plans to remain in office to avoid creating a political vacuum. However, he has pledged reforms to address funding scandals and improve transparency within the party, which has dominated Japanese politics for most of the post-war period.
Ishiba’s party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), along with its coalition partner Komeito, captured just 215 seats, falling short of the 233 needed to hold a majority in Japan’s 465-seat parliament. It now faces the prospect of governing as a minority or seeking support from smaller parties.
Japan’s election results come just over a week before the United States votes for a new president. Ishiba has made strengthening Japan’s ties with the US a top priority, particularly given the growing security challenges in Asia, including an increasingly assertive China and unpredictable North Korea. How this realignment will impact relations with Washington remains to be seen.
Shigeru Ishiba, Japan's Prime Minister and leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), at a press conference at the party's headquarters in Tokyo © Kim Kyung-Hoon / POOL / AFP