Political instability in Tokyo: Japan's ruling coalition loses majority in the upper house
Tokyo. The governing coalition of Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has lost its majority in the upper house elections, Japanese broadcaster NHK reported on Monday (local time). Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its smaller coalition partner, Komeito, would have needed to gain 50 more seats in addition to their current 75 to retain a majority in the 248-seat upper house. The coalition now holds only 47 seats, with one seat still up for grabs, NHK reported.
Despite the defeat, Ishiba expressed his determination to continue to overcome challenges such as looming US tariffs. "I will fulfill my responsibilities as leader of the leading party and work for the country," he declared. The prime minister could be asked to resign or find another coalition partner.
Following its defeat in the lower house elections last October, the coalition is now also in the minority in the upper house – for the first time since the LDP was founded in 1955. Observers see this as a clear sign of growing political instability in Japan.
RND/AP
rnd
