Japan: Ruling LDP Loses Majority After Snap Election

Published OCT 28 2024

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Above: Shigeru Ishiba, Japan's prime minister and president of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), during a news conference at the party's headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024. Image copyright: Kiyoshi Ota/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The Spin

Whilst Japan's opposition parties were unable to come to an official agreement prior to the election in order to finally remove a weakened and scandal-riddled LDP from power, momentum remains with the country's advocates for change following a hugely successful night for the CDP. Now the real discussions must begin as rival interests and ideologies must be placed to one side in order to ensure a new era for Japanese politics.

The Asahi Shimbun Kyodo News+

Whilst a monumental blow to Ishiba and his coalition, the LDP remain the largest party in Japan and their continued governance of the country remains a plausible outcome of this election. Ishiba's ascension as LDP leader was intended as a break from the status quo political corruption that had marred Japan for so long – divided opposition may buy the Prime Minister time to sure up his position and turn the corner that the country so clearly desires.

South China Morning Post