Japan's ruling coalition, led by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, is on track to lose its majority in the upper house, local media and exit polls showed. According to Nippon TV and TBS, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior partner Komeito won just 41 of the 125 seats contested, falling short of the 50 needed to control the 248-member chamber.
NHK exit projections echoed the trend, forecasting the coalition could end up with anywhere from 32 to 51 seats. Meanwhile, the right-wing populist Sanseito party made strong gains, securing an additional 10 to 22 seats on top of its existing two.
The result marks another blow for Ishiba, who took office less than a year ago. Last October, his coalition lost the lower house majority after snap elections, forcing him into a minority government. Now, grappling with weakened power in both chambers, the prime minister faces mounting challenges to pass key economic and climate legislation that markets and businesses worldwide have been watching closely.
With the LDP exploring new alliance strategies and opposition parties sensing an opportunity, Japan's political scene may be headed for dramatic shifts. Globally minded readers, from entrepreneurs to digital nomads, will be watching how this realignment impacts Japan's stance in G7 discussions, trade ties across Asia, and the vibrant tech startup ecosystem in Tokyo.
What comes next? Could fresh coalitions emerge, or might this trigger another round of early elections? Stay tuned as we track Japan's evolving political landscape and its ripple effects around the world.
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Japan's ruling coalition likely to lose upper house majority
cgtn.com
