Japan’s Ruling Party Took a Heavy Blow From the Voters
The Liberal Democratic Party, which has ruled Japan almost without a break since 1955, put up the second-worst result in its history last month. The party had to find a new parliamentary ally to stay in power at the head of a minority government.
Japanese prime minister Ishiba Shigeru speaks to the media at the Liberal Democratic Party’s headquarters on October 27, 2024, in Tokyo, Japan. (Takashi Aoyama / Getty Images)
In a global year of elections, Japan’s long-serving Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has suffered its second-worst result on record. The snap poll on October 27 was intended to secure the mandate of Ishiba Shigeru, selected prime minister just a few weeks before. Instead, his party was trounced.
The LDP lost 68 seats, reducing it from a secure majority of 259 parliamentarians into a struggling minority power. Its coalition partner, Komeito, fared even worse. One-quarter of its MPs were ejected, including recently elected party leader Ishii Keiichi. The LDP had to strike a deal with a third party so it could carry on as a minority government.
Ishiba’s Fumble
Slush fund scandals fueled the electoral drubbing, as LDP politicians failed to report the leftovers from excess ticket sales at fundraising events. $3.5 million allegedly went unaccounted for and possibly into the pockets of lawmakers, with over 180 LDP members implicated.
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