In the July 20 Upper House election, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner Komeito are struggling to keep a majority when combined with non-contested seats. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (also LDP president) said he will “humbly and sincerely accept” the results but still plans to stay in office. However, if the coalition fails to reach its goal of winning 50 seats, pressure for Ishiba to resign will likely grow within the LDP. Behind the scenes, moves are already starting to find a possible successor, making the political situation more uncertain.
That night, Ishiba appeared on several TV programs with a tense expression, repeating his commitment to continue leading. He also criticized the opposition parties for promising things like a temporary cut in the consumption tax, saying, “We can't just focus on short-term gains.”
Earlier in the day, Ishiba attended a church service in Tokyo, met with LDP Secretary-General Hiroshi Moriyama, then returned to the prime minister’s residence to speak with top government officials about U.S.-Japan trade talks and his plan to stay in office.
Since last year’s Lower House election, the ruling coalition has been a minority. Keeping a majority in the Upper House was seen as a “last line of defense.” Losing it would mean opposition parties control both chambers, putting the government at serious risk.
Still, the opposition is not fully united. Even if they win, it could be difficult to run the government smoothly, and this uncertainty likely influenced Ishiba’s decision to remain in office.
Meanwhile, some LDP members who are critical of Ishiba plan to hold emergency meetings soon and may push for a leadership race. One such meeting was held late on the 20th by the Aso faction. When asked about Ishiba’s decision to stay on, senior advisor Taro Aso remained silent.
“There are just too many unknowns right now,” said LDP General Council Chairperson Shunichi Suzuki, who attended the meeting. “No one knows what will happen next.”
by MagazineKey4532