TOKYO, Jul 23 (Kyodo/APP): Japan’s ruling coalition is certain to lose its majority in the House of Councillors after Sunday’s election, an outcome that will pile pressure on embattled Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba who has vowed to stay on despite yet another heavy blow to his party.
The cards are stacked against Ishiba, with all major opposition parties ruling out joining the Liberal Democratic Party and its partner Komeito in an expanded coalition.
The ruling coalition has now been deprived of majority control in both houses of parliament, the upper house and the more powerful House of Representatives — a very rare situation for a government in postwar Japan. Opposition support will become even more crucial for passing bills and budgets.
The LDP and Komeito failed to meet their preelection goal of winning at least 50 of the 125 contested seats to reach the majority threshold in the upper house.
The LDP appears to have lost favor among some conservative voters, with the right-leaning populist party Sanseito emerging as an alternative.