Shigeru Ishiba, the president of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), faced criticism after being caught dozing off during a parliamentary session on Monday. Ishiba was re-elected as Japan’s prime minister in a closely watched vote, but the viral video of him briefly closing his eyes as the votes were being counted quickly became the center of attention.
Footage from the session shows Ishiba with his head down and eyes closed while the votes were tallied. Social media users quickly began commenting on the incident, with many questioning his attentiveness during such an important moment. The hashtag #PMIshibaSnoozing spread across platforms, bringing a wave of criticism toward the prime minister.
Japanese social media was quick to point out that PM Shigeru Ishiba appeared to doze off during Monday’s vote in parliament for a new prime minister.
The reason? Cold medicine, said Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi, who’s seen in the video beside Ishiba, checking if he’s alright. pic.twitter.com/CY6PX864Vl
— Hanako Montgomery (@HanakoMontgome1) November 11, 2024
In response to growing concerns about Ishiba’s health, the government’s top spokesman, Yoshimasa Hayashi, addressed the media. Hayashi explained that the prime minister had been working late into the night before the session and was feeling unwell due to a cold. He reassured the public that aside from the cold, there were no major health issues affecting Ishiba.
Despite the government’s explanation, Ishiba’s behavior did not go unnoticed by political opponents. An opposition lawmaker pointed out that the act of nodding off during such an important election showed a lack of urgency and focus. “If he was really asleep, that shows his marked lack of tension,” the lawmaker was quoted as saying by Kyodo News.
Nobuyuki Baba, leader of the Japan Innovation Party, also weighed in, expressing concern over Ishiba’s actions during such a critical moment. “It was inappropriate for one to take a rest during such an election,” Baba said, referencing the vote to decide the head of Japan’s government.
Despite the controversy surrounding the incident, Ishiba was successfully confirmed as Japan’s prime minister during the session. This marks an important milestone for his new administration, although his LDP and coalition partner Komeito failed to secure a majority in the recent Lower House election.
The viral video, however, quickly overshadowed his victory, drawing attention to his moment of drowsiness rather than the parliamentary vote itself.
