During an interview with Asahi Television after the election, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, also the president of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), was asked whether he would continue as Prime Minister if the LDP failed to secure a majority in the House of Representatives. He responded firmly, “Yes, I will,” emphasizing his commitment to continuing his governing responsibilities.
The 50th House of Representatives election in Japan took place today, with 465 seats up for grabs, including 289 single-member districts and 176 proportional representation seats. Before the election announcement on the 15th, the ruling coalition held 279 seats (247 for the LDP and 32 for Komeito), and their ability to achieve a majority of 233 seats was a key point of interest.
The LDP set up a ballot counting center today, planning to place a red flower above the names of candidates confirmed as elected. However, hours into the counting, the flowers were sparse, indicating a less optimistic outlook. Around 8 PM, a television report highlighted the precarious situation for the LDP and Komeito, leading senior party officials, including Shinjiro Koizumi, to wear grave expressions.
According to exit polls and analysis from NHK, the LDP and Komeito are expected to secure between 174 and 254 seats, which includes the crucial goal of 233 for a majority. Specifically, predictions suggest the LDP could win between 153 and 219 seats, failing to achieve a majority on its own.
After 10 PM, Ishiba commented in an NHK interview, “So far, I realize we are undergoing a very stern judgment and must approach the results with humility and seriousness.” In a separate interview with Fuji Television, he stated, “At this stage, where the vote counts are not yet fully revealed, I believe it’s premature to discuss my position.”
Regarding the LDP’s potential setbacks, Ishiba noted that the party’s explanations concerning political funding issues did not fully resonate with voters. He also pointed out that this election campaign had lacked discussions on foreign security, social welfare, and agricultural policies, heavily focusing instead on the political funding scandal.
On the other hand, the largest opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party, saw significant gains in this election. Party leader Kasutori Noda acknowledged, “It’s a fact that we have improved compared to the last election, and we hope to push the LDP and Komeito below a majority.”
Concerning cooperation among opposition parties, Noda expressed a desire for dialogue with other parties to build consensus against the “LDP-Komeito administration” and advance political reform.
