Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner, Komeito, have lost their parliamentary majority in a dramatic shift, with opposition parties claiming over half of the seats in the lower house.
Led by Shigeru Ishiba, the newly appointed LDP leader, the coalition fell short of the 233 seats required for a majority, marking the party’s worst electoral outcome in over a decade.
The setback comes as the LDP struggles with low approval ratings, stemming from a series of corruption scandals, including alleged ties to the controversial Unification Church and a political fundraising scandal involving millions of dollars.
Ishiba acknowledged the defeat as a “harsh verdict” from voters.
Amid these political shifts, economic challenges are weighing heavily on Japanese citizens.
Rising prices of essential goods, stagnant wages, and inflation rates not seen in half a century have intensified public frustrations.
Image credit: Jezael Melgoza
