Japan ruling party set to lose majority in the Lower House: NHK

Japan ruling party set to lose majority in the Lower House: NHK


Prime Minister of Japan and Chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Shigeru Ishiba pauses while speaking to the media regarding the lower house elections at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo on October 27, 2024. Photo: Kyodo News via AP

Prime Minister of Japan and Chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Shigeru Ishiba pauses while speaking to the media regarding the lower house elections at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo on October 27, 2024. Photo: Kyodo News via AP

Japan’s NHK public television says Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s ruling coalition is certain to lose its majority in the 465-seat lower house in a key parliamentary election on Sunday (October 27, 2024).

The results reflect voter anger over the ruling party’s widespread financial scandals.

Mr. Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner Komeito were certain to lose their 233-seat majority in the more powerful lower house of Japan’s two-member parliament.

Falling short of a majority does not mean a change of government, but the results will make it difficult for Mr. Ishiba to pass his party’s policies through Parliament, and he may need to find a third coalition partner.

Mr Ishiba, who took office on October 1, ordered snap elections in hopes of boosting support after his predecessor Fumio Kishida failed to address public outrage over the LDP’s actions.

‘Extremely serious’

“The results so far have been extremely serious and we take them very seriously,” Mr Ishiba told NHK. “I believe voters are asking us to be more considerate (of financial wrongdoings) and to be a party that lives up to their expectations.”

In his final speech in Tokyo on Saturday, Mr Ishiba apologized for his party’s misuse of funds and said only the LDP’s ruling coalition could run Japan responsibly with its experience and reliable policies.



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