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Key Points

Japan’s ruling coalition suffered a major blow as it lost its upper house majority, weakening PM Ishiba’s government. The LDP-Komeito alliance fell short of their seat target, signaling eroding voter confidence. Rising prices and stalled US trade talks contributed to the backlash. The populist Sanseito party gained ground, further complicating Japan’s political landscape.

Key Points: Japan PM Ishiba Faces Crisis as Ruling Coalition Loses Majority

  • Ruling coalition fails to secure upper house majority
  • Opposition gains crucial leverage in policymaking
  • Populist Sanseito party surges in conservative vote
  • Economic frustrations fuel voter backlash against LDP
2 min read

Japan Election: Ruling coalition to lose voter confidence, a severe blow to PM Ishiba

Japan’s ruling coalition loses upper house majority, dealing a major setback to PM Ishiba amid economic woes and rising opposition strength.

"We have to take the projected outcome humbly – PM Shigeru Ishiba"

Tokyo, July 21

Japan's ruling coalition is certain to lose its majority in the House of Councillors after Sunday's election, an outcome that will pile pressure on embattled Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who has vowed to stay on despite yet another heavy blow to his party, Kyodo News reported.

The cards are stacked against PM Ishiba, with all major opposition parties ruling out joining the Liberal Democratic Party and its partner Komeito in an expanded coalition.

The ruling coalition has now been deprived of majority control in both houses of parliament, the upper house and the more powerful House of Representatives -- a very rare situation for a government in post-war Japan. Opposition support will become even more crucial for passing bills and budgets, as per Kyodo News.

The Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito failed to meet their pre-election goal of winning at least 50 of the 125 contested seats, which would have allowed them to reach the majority threshold in the upper house.

The LDP appears to have lost favour among some conservative voters, with the right-leaning populist party Sanseito emerging as an alternative.

Despite its "Japanese First" mantra and nationalistic policy agenda targeting foreigners -- seen by critics as xenophobic -- its upper house strength surged above 10, a level that enables it to submit bills in the chamber.

The election served as a gauge of voter confidence in the months-old minority government amid mounting frustration over its handling of rising prices, insufficient wage growth and limited progress in negotiations on tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump.

"We have to take the projected outcome humbly," PM Ishiba said on a TV program, adding that the LDP must fulfil its responsibility as the ruling party.

His comments followed those of LDP Secretary General Hiroshi Moriyama, the party's number two figure, who stated on a separate TV program that a political vacuum should be avoided.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
The rise of right-wing parties everywhere is concerning 😟 First Brexit, now Japan's Sanseito. We should learn from these global trends and strengthen our own democratic institutions.
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Arjun K
Japan's economic struggles mirror some of our challenges - inflation, wage stagnation. But at least their PM is accepting responsibility. How many of our netas would do that? 🤔
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Sarah B
As an expat in Tokyo, I can confirm prices are rising rapidly. The government's weak position will make reforms difficult. This could impact Japanese investments in India too.
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Vikram M
The article misses how this affects India-Japan relations. Our bullet train project and other collaborations need stable Japanese leadership. Hope they sort things out soon!
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Nisha Z
While the situation is serious, let's not forget Japan's resilience. They bounced back from worse crises. Their discipline and work ethic will see them through this phase too 🇯🇵
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Karthik V
The "Japanese First" policy sounds familiar... every country seems to be turning inward. In this globalized world, we need more cooperation, not less. Hope better sense prevails.

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