Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s ruling coalition is set to lose its majority in the 465-seat lower house in a critical parliamentary election on Sunday, reports Japan’s NHK public television.
According to NHK, the results reveal voter frustration with the governing party’s numerous financial scandals. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior coalition partner, Komeito, are expected to lose their majority of 233 seats in Japan’s 465-seat lower house, the more influential of the nation’s two parliamentary chambers.
Although falling short of a majority does not necessitate a change in government, the outcome would complicate Ishiba’s efforts to pass his party’s policies in parliament, potentially requiring him to seek a third coalition partner.
Ishiba, who assumed office on October 1, called for the election soon after to bolster support following his predecessor Fumio Kishida’s failure to address public dissatisfaction with the LDP’s conduct.
Also Read: Harvey Weinstein Diagnosed With Cancer Amid Retrial
