Tokyo
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba of Japan on Monday has reaffirmed his commitment to continue leading the government despite significant losses in the general election. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), headed by Ishiba, experienced a historic setback, losing its majority in the House of Representatives for the first time in 15 years.
In a press conference at LDP headquarters, Ishiba characterized the election outcome as “harsh” and stressed the need to avoid a political stalemate as Japan faces mounting economic and security challenges. He acknowledged that the party’s failure to adequately address public concerns over political funding and transparency played a crucial role in their electoral defeat.
The LDP and its coalition partner, Komeito, won 215 out of 465 seats, a significant decline from 288 seats, marking the first time since 2009 that they have lost majority control. The LDP alone secured 191 seats, a steep drop from the previous 247. Meanwhile, the main opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, made substantial gains, increasing its representation from 98 to 148 seats.
Ishiba indicated that he does not intend to change the ruling coalition’s structure but is open to incorporating policy proposals from opposition parties to rebuild trust with voters. He emphasized the need for fundamental reforms within the LDP to regain confidence following recent scandals, particularly regarding underreported political funds.
In light of the disappointing results, LDP election strategy chief Shinjiro Koizumi resigned on Monday, taking responsibility for the party’s poor performance.
