Japan is facing uncertainty about its future government after voters reacted negatively to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s coalition in a recent snap election, according to Reuters.
This election left no political party with a clear majority, which has led to concerns about the country’s stability. As a result, the value of the yen has fallen to a three-month low, and analysts anticipate that forming a new government could take days or even weeks.
Prime Minister Ishiba acknowledged the tough situations Japan is dealing with, such as economic challenges and security threats from China and North Korea, and expressed his intention to continue leading.
His party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and its coalition partner, Komeito, lost many seats in the lower house of parliament, dropping from 279 to 215. This loss was largely due to public frustration over a funding scandal and rising living costs.
The main opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ), gained seats, moving from 98 to 148, but they still do not have enough to form a majority government.
A parliamentary session to discuss who will become the new prime minister may happen on November 11.
Analysts suggest Ishiba might not remain as the prime minister following this defeat, though he could stay in a caretaker role.
The election results mark a significant decline for the LDP, which has held power for most of Japan’s post-war history. The situation has raised questions about how smaller parties could influence government formation since they gained some seats, but their leaders have expressed reluctance to join the ruling coalition.
Ishiba called the election early in an attempt to secure a public mandate but faced backlash over his handling of a scandal related to undisclosed donations to party lawmakers. His party also did not support several candidates involved in scandals, yet reports indicated that funds were still given to non-endorsed candidates, further hurting their public image.
The cooperation of smaller parties like the Democratic Party for the People (DPP) and the Japan Innovation Party (JIP) could be crucial for the LDP.
However, both parties have indicated they prefer not to join the coalition but might work together on specific issues.
Despite the political turmoil, there was a positive development: a record number of women, 73, were elected to Japan’s parliament, surpassing the previous high of 54 in 2009.
This shift could indicate changing dynamics in Japan’s political landscape【Reuters】.