Following Japan’s lower house election on October 27, 2024, the ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba—comprising the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its partner Komeito—is projected to lose its parliamentary majority, according to national broadcaster NHK. As of 3:45 a.m. local time, the ruling bloc was expected to secure only 214 seats, falling short of the 233 needed to maintain control in the 465-seat chamber, with just one seat left to be counted.
Significant gains were reported for the opposition, particularly the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) and the Democratic Party for the People (DPP), increasing political uncertainty for Ishiba’s freshly appointed administration. This shift marks a potential return to underdog status for the LDP, reminiscent of their position in 2009.
Ishiba, who became Prime Minister on October 1, after defeating Sanae Takaichi in an internal party election, had called for this general election on September 30. His campaign grappled with issues such as inflation and corruption scandals, which have stirred division within the party. Notably, the slush fund scandal of 2023 led to the replacement of four cabinet ministers and other high-ranking officials by his predecessor, Fumio Kishida.
In response to the nation’s challenges, Ishiba committed to alleviating the financial strain on households due to rising living costs and expressed a goal to bolster rural revitalization, addressing Japan’s demographic and aging population issues. As the election results unfold, the implications for his leadership and these initiatives hang in the balance, with the country potentially poised for a significant political shift.
Original Story https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/27/japan-election-liberal-democratic-party-to-fall-short-of-majority.html
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