Japan PM Ishiba’s Fate Uncertain As Ruling Coalition Loses Majority In Snap Polls

Japan’s ruling coalition comprising the Liberal Democratic Party and its junior ally Komeito lost the majority in the lower house of the parliament for the first time since 2009 in the Sunday general elections. 

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba who assumed the office last month called the snap polls but the move backfired as his LDP remained marred in the political funding corruption scandal. It was the same scandal that compelled former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to step down despite taking action and punishing lawmakers linked to the scandal. 

Before the Lower House was dissolved on October 9, the ruling bloc had a comfortable 288 seats, which were slashed to 215 post-polls, falling short of the 233 needed for a simple majority. LDP secured 191 seats, while Komeito got 24, reported The Japan Times.  

Meanwhile, the largest opposition party the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan saw a significant rise in its seat share from 98 to 148 seats. 

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The LDP-Komieto alliance will have to look for a third partner to remain in power, a move that would necessitate negotiations or concessions between the ruling parties.

The election results have left the fate of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in balance also as his current cabinet will resign when the Diet convenes for a special session that must be held within 30 days of a general elections. 

Fresh voting will be held in both houses to select a prime minister. Ishiba could form a second cabinet if he is elected. Still, if the Diet chooses a new leader, his tenure would be the shortest since World War II — even briefer than that of Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni, who served as prime minister for 54 days, as per a Nikkei Asia report. 

“Voters have handed us a harsh verdict and we have to humbly accept this result,” Ishiba told NHK