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Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has vowed to remain in office after his ruling coalition suffered a defeat in upper house elections, prompting some of his own party to deliberate on his future.
Ishiba told a news conference he would remain in office to oversee tariff talks with the United States and other pressing matters, such as rising consumer prices that are straining the world’s fourth-largest economy.
Norihiro Yamaguchi, the principal Japan economist at Oxford Economics, noted, “The political landscape is currently unpredictable and might result in a leadership change or a reorganization of the coalition in the near future. However, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is expected to remain in position to finalize the tariff discussions with the United States for the time being.”
‘Harsh result’
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) led by Ishiba, along with its coalition ally Komeito, secured 47 seats. This fell short of the 50 seats necessary to maintain a majority in the 248-seat upper house during an election where half of the seats were contestable.
That comes on top of its worst showing in 15 years in October’s lower house election, a vote that has left Ishiba’s administration vulnerable to no-confidence motions and calls from within his own party for leadership change.
Speaking after exit polls closed, Ishiba told NHK he “solemnly” accepted the “harsh result”.
“We are engaged in extremely critical tariff negotiations with the United States … we must never ruin these negotiations. It is only natural to devote our complete dedication and energy to realising our national interests,” he later told TV Tokyo.
Asked whether he intended to stay on as premier, he said: “That’s right.”
‘Japanese First’ campaign
Japan, the world’s fourth-largest economy, faces a deadline of 1 August to strike a trade deal with the US or face tariffs in its largest export market.
The main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party finished second with 22 seats.
Meanwhile, the right-leaning Sanseito party announced its arrival in mainstream politics, winning 14 seats on top of its single existing seat.
Launched on YouTube a few years ago, the populist party found wider appeal with its “Japanese First” campaign and warnings about a “silent invasion” of foreigners.
