Japan’s ruling party (LDP) loses snap election

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Shigeru Ishiba, became Japan's Prime Minister in September and announces a snap election within days of being in offic
japan snap election

Japan’s ruling party has lost its majority after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba called a snap election.

It follows recent controversy surrounding the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Ishiba’s predecessor, Fumio Kishida, resigned as PM over corruption allegations in August.

The LDP’s main opposition – the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ) – won an additional 50 seats.

However, no party has secured a clear majority. The PM has vowed to remain in office, as his party and the CDPJ look to negotiate with Japan’s minor parties.

Corruption

The LDP has held power in Japan for all but four of the last 70 years.

Last year, several LDP members were charged with corruption over a fundraising scandal.

The Tokyo District Prosecutors Office accused 10 people, including lawmakers and political staffers, of failing to declare up to 940 million yen ($AU9.3 million) in political earnings.

Members associated with this corruption were removed from their positions.

Fallout

Public support for the LDP began to decline as a result of the controversy.

By the end of 2023, support for then-Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had dropped to around 20% — Japan’s lowest approval rating of any PM in over a decade.

Polling showed support for Kishida’s Government had also dropped to 15.5%.

After three years as PM, Kishida resigned in August.

Kishida’s successor, senior LDP figure Shigeru Ishiba, became Prime Minister in September.

Within days, he announced a snap election to determine the makeup of Japan’s parliament.

The former Defence Minister said: “It is important for the new administration to be judged by the people as soon as possible”.

Japanese voters went to the polls on Sunday.

Election

There are 465 seats in Japan’s House of Representatives. A party needs 233 to govern as a majority.

Before Sunday’s vote, the LDP and its coalition partner (a smaller party called Komeito) held 279 seats. After the election, the LDP and Komeito dropped to 215 seats — 18 short of forming government.

The LDP’s main opposition is the centre-left CDPJ. It won a total of 148 seats but remains 85 seats short of a majority.

The CDPJ has won two elections against the LDP since 1955.

The latest election result means the future Government of Japan remains unclear.

However, CDPJ leader Yoshihiko Noda said he would work with other minor parties to reach the required 233 seats.

Speaking to local media, Noda said a change of government was in sight. The CDPJ leader said he would seek to negotiate a deal with a smaller opposition party, the Democratic Party for the People (DPP).

Minor parties

The DPP won 28 seats. It’s ruled out allying with the LDP/Komeito coalition.

However, DPP leader Yuichiro Tamaki noted his party would be “willing to work with any party, be they government or opposition,” on a “policy-by-policy” basis.

The Japan Innovation Party (JIP) said it was “absolutely not considering” siding with the LDP.

The JIP has secured 38 seats but it’s unclear if it will work with the CDPJ.

JIP leader Nobuyuki Baba said his party’s differing policies with the CDPJ could “cause confusion” for voters.

According to the Japanese Constitution, parties have 30 days after an election to determine a government.

If the LDP cannot reach a deal with the other parties, Prime Minister Ishiba could end up leading a minority.

Despite the result, Ishiba said: “I want to fulfil my duty by protecting people’s lives, [and] protecting Japan.”

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