Japan prime minister scrambles for support
Published: 04:10 PM,Oct 29,2024 | EDITED : 08:10 PM,Oct 29,2024
Japan's prime minister Shigeru Ishiba bows to LDP lawmakers onstage, at the party's headquarters in Tokyo. — AFP
TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's ruling party was reportedly locked in talks to form new alliances on Tuesday after losing its parliamentary majority in an election debacle. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has governed Japan almost non-stop since 1955, and coalition partner Komeito fell short of a majority in Sunday's election, official results confirmed on Tuesday.
Ishiba said he would not quit despite his party's worst election result in 15 years, indicating he would head a minority government as he was not considering a broader coalition 'at this point'.
But media reports on Tuesday said the LDP was talking to opposition parties about arrangements to ensure Ishiba can get legislation through -- and also remain prime minister.
Together with the Komeito party, the LDP won 215 of parliament's 465 lower house seats. According to the Yomiuri newspaper, Ishiba has decided to seek a 'partial' coalition with the centrist DPP, whose manifesto included subsidies for reducing energy bills. — AFP
Ishiba said he would not quit despite his party's worst election result in 15 years, indicating he would head a minority government as he was not considering a broader coalition 'at this point'.
But media reports on Tuesday said the LDP was talking to opposition parties about arrangements to ensure Ishiba can get legislation through -- and also remain prime minister.
Together with the Komeito party, the LDP won 215 of parliament's 465 lower house seats. According to the Yomiuri newspaper, Ishiba has decided to seek a 'partial' coalition with the centrist DPP, whose manifesto included subsidies for reducing energy bills. — AFP