Tokyo: Japan Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s ruling coalition lost its majority in elections for the lower house of parliament on Sunday. Japan’s government broadcaster ‘NHK’ gave this information. The results reflect voter anger over the ruling party’s widespread financial “scams”. NHK said in its news that Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner ‘Komeito’ do not seem to get a majority (233 seats) in the 456-seat lower house. In Japan’s bicameral parliament, the lower house is very powerful.
How much danger is there to the government in Japan?
Losing the majority does not mean a change in the government, but the results will make it difficult for Ishiba to get his party’s policies passed in Parliament and he may have to look for a third coalition partner. Ishiba, who took office on October 1, had ordered snap elections in hopes of rallying support after his predecessor Fumio Kishida failed to quell public anger over the Liberal Democratic Party’s actions.
How many seats did the ruling coalition get?
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and junior coalition partner Komeito won 209 seats in the 465-seat lower house of the Japanese parliament. This is down from the previous 279 seats and is the coalition’s worst election result since it briefly lost power in 2009. “This election has been very difficult for us,” Ishiba told TV Tokyo. Komeito chief Keiichi Ishii has faced defeat in his district.