Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the headquarters of the Liberal Democratic Party in Tokyo on October 27. TAKASHI AOYAMA / AFP The setback for the Liberal Democratic Party (PLD) during the legislative elections on Sunday October 27 opens a period of political uncertainty in Japan. According to exit polls carried out by the public channel NHK, the ruling coalition – the PLD and its ally the small Komei Party – was not expected to retain the 259 seats which assured it an absolute majority – at least 233 elected – in the outgoing assembly. She is paying for her inability to respond to Japanese concerns about the standard of living and discontent linked to the PLD slush fund scandal revealed in 2023. “I am aware that we have been judged very harshly. We must accept it humbly and solemnly,” responded Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who said he was ready to seek new partners for a coalition. “The election results stem from the accumulated criticism that we still have not resolved the issue of money in politics,” added LDP political affairs manager Shinjiro Koizumi shortly after the announcement of the first elections. estimates which give his party between 153 and 219 elected officials. “We have made progress. We still hope to defeat the PLD and the Komei Party,” reacted Yoshihiko Noda, president of the Constitutional Democratic Party (PDC), the main opposition group which could obtain between 128 and 191 seats. She had 96 in the outgoing assembly. Also read the analysis | Article reserved for our subscribers Between scandals and massive abstention, the great malaise of Japanese democracy Add to your selections The trends mean a weakening of Shigeru Ishiba, even questions about his retention in power. Elected on September 27 at the head of the PLD and successor four days later to Fumio Kishida at the head of the government, the former minister of defense immediately organized early legislative elections in the hope of benefiting from a certain state of grace for consolidate its power. He promised “a new Japan”, established by strengthening defense, increased support for low-income households and the revitalization of rural areas. But his popularity rating, at 28% in mid-October, a low level for a new head of government, quickly jeopardized his chances of victory. An unfavorable electoral reform Mr. Ishiba has been criticized for having backed down – under pressure from the conservative fringe of the PLD, which is hostile to him – on several subjects since his election, such as the possibility for a married couple not to have the same name family, or higher taxation of capital gains. He also prevaricated on the fate of the PLD elected officials sanctioned by the party for their involvement in the slush fund scandal, the revelations of which plunged Mr. Kishida’s popularity rating and motivated his decision not to run for re-election. mandate. Some of these elected officials, like former minister Koichi Hagiuda, chose to run as an independent. The center-left daily Asahi revealed that the party had nevertheless granted them funds for their campaign. You have 50.42% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.
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