This morning, October 27, Japanese voters began voting for 465 seats in the lower house of parliament. The early election took place in the context that the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) led by Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru could face a major challenge.
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| Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru waves to voters during a meeting in Tokyo on October 26. (Source: Reuters) |
Starting at 7:00 a.m. this morning, October 27, local time, Japanese voters in 47 provinces and cities across the country began voting to elect their representatives in the 50th general election of the cherry blossom country.
This is an important event in Japan's political and social life, but there is still a possibility that the voter turnout will be as low as in previous elections.
This election has 1,344 candidates, not only from the 9 political parties currently holding seats in the House of Representatives, but also candidates who do not belong to any political party. This is a fierce race between politicians to win 465 positions representing more than 126 million Japanese people.
Attention is focused on whether Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party will maintain its majority in the lower house, as media surveys show the LDP-Komeito coalition faces many obstacles.
The general election comes after new Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru dissolved the lower house of parliament on October 9 and called a snap election. Ishiba has vowed to restore public confidence in politics and push through key policies.
According to Kyodo News , of the 465 seats, voters will directly vote for 289 candidates. The remaining 176 seats will be divided into 11 proportional constituencies and voters will vote for the party they support.
The ruling party or coalition will need to win at least 233 seats to gain a majority. Before the dissolution of the lower house, the LDP-led coalition had won 288 seats.
Meanwhile, the LDP enters this early election with many challenges, including regaining public trust after a political funding scandal within the party in late 2023.
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| Japanese voters began voting in the general election on the morning of October 27. (Source: EPA) |
In addition, the LDP has come under further criticism in the final days of this year's election campaign. Kyodo News reported on October 24 that the LDP was found to have transferred election support money to several local branches, led by people involved in the political funding scandal and not officially supported by the party. LDP Secretary-General Moriyama Hiroshi said that the money was not sent for election purposes but as part of the local branch's operating expenses, thereby expanding the party's power.
Japanese political experts say that while it is not wrong to support local branches legally, it could affect voters' perception that the LDP is secretly supporting those involved in the scandal.
The Japan Times reported on October 27 that Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has stepped up his campaigning efforts in the final stages of his term, aiming to convince the public that the LDP is still a reliable choice to lead the country.
"We cannot let the country fall into the hands of an opposition that cannot tell voters how it will act on issues such as the economy, the Constitution or social security," Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru told supporters in Tokyo on October 26.
Meanwhile, the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) has a great chance to increase its number of seats in the lower house and replace the ruling party. The CDP has strongly criticized the LDP regarding the ruling party's handling of the political funding scandal.
CDP leader Noda Yoshihiko has repeatedly said that preventing the ruling coalition from winning a majority could provide momentum to Japan's political landscape.
The election results are expected to be announced on October 28.
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tong-tuyen-cu-som-o-nhat-ban-cua-ai-khong-de-vuot-cua-dang-cam-quyen-291550.html
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