POPULIST POLITICS
Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has ruled Japan for most of its post-war history, and coalition partner Komeito returned 47 seats, short of the 50 seats it needed to ensure a majority in the 248-seat upper chamber in an election where half the seats were up for grabs.
The leader of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party (CDPJ), Yoshihiko Noda, said on Sunday he is considering submitting a vote of no-confidence in the Ishiba administration as the result showed it did not have voters’ trust.
The CDPJ returned 22 seats in the ballot, finishing second.
Some senior LDP lawmakers were also quietly voicing doubts over whether Ishiba should stay, according to local media reports on Monday.
Among them was former prime minister Taro Aso, leader of a powerful faction within the ruling party, who said he “couldn’t accept” Ishiba staying on, Japan’s TV Asahi reported.
Senior party members, including Aso, met on Sunday evening to discuss whether Ishiba should resign, Sankei newspaper reported.
“It is natural that there are various opinions within the party,” Ishiba said, when asked about the members of his party calling for his resignation.
