Japan's ruling coalition loses majority in election

(CLO) Japan's ruling coalition lost its parliamentary majority in a national election held on Sunday (October 27), increasing uncertainty about the composition of the next government and the country's shaky economic outlook.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has ruled Japan for most of its post-World War II history, and its coalition partner Komeito won 215 seats in the lower house, public broadcaster NHK reported.

That was down from the 279 seats they held previously and marked the coalition's worst election result since briefly losing power in 2009. "This election was really difficult for us," a somber Ishiba told TV Tokyo.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks to the media at the headquarters of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on October 27, 2024. Photo: Takashi Aoyama

Komeito Party leader Keiichi Ishii, who took office as the party's new leader last month, lost in his region.

The biggest victory was for the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ). The main opposition party won 148 seats, up from 98, as voters grew disenchanted with Mr Ishiba's party over financial scandals and inflation.

This outcome could force the parties into volatile power-sharing arrangements to govern the country, potentially leading to political instability as the country faces economic hardships and a tense security situation in East Asia.

"This is not the end but the beginning," CDPJ leader Yoshihiko Noda told a news conference, saying his party would work with other opposition parties to aim for a change in government.

Earlier in the night, Mr Ishiba had said he would wait until the final results were in before considering potential coalitions or other power-sharing arrangements.

Prime Minister Ishiba called a surprise election last month shortly after being elected as successor to Fumio Kishida, hoping to salvage his party’s decline. Kishida resigned amid public anger over the cost-of-living crisis and a scandal involving unrecorded donations to lawmakers.

Smaller parties, such as the Democratic Party for the People (DPP) or the Japan Innovation Party, could now play a major role in forming a government. According to NHK, the DPP won 28 seats and the Japan Innovation Party won 38 seats. But both propose policies that are contrary to the LDP's line.

The DPP has called for halving Japan's 10% sales tax until real wages rise, a policy not endorsed by the LDP, while the Renewal Party has pledged to impose stricter donation rules to clean up politics.

Hoang Anh (according to NHK, Kyodo, Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/lien-minh-cam-quyen-nhat-ban-mat-da-so-ghe-trong-cuoc-bau-cu-toan-quoc-post318726.html