On October 27, 2024, Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) experienced a significant political setback, losing its majority in parliament for the first time since 2009. The outcome of the snap elections, as reported by NHK, has introduced a wave of uncertainty regarding the future of the government.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who recently took over leadership after former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's resignation amid a corruption scandal, now faces the challenge of forming a stable coalition. The LDP may require the support of a third party in addition to its current coalition partner, Komeito, to maintain governance.
The elections were called in response to a series of scandals involving the LDP, including revelations of secret slush funds totaling approximately 600 million yen ($4.1 million). Despite the LDP's long-standing dominance in Japanese politics, public dissatisfaction with rising prices and the fallout from previous scandals has led to a decline in voter confidence.
In the previous general election in 2021, the LDP secured 259 seats in the lower house, while Komeito held 32. However, pre-election polls indicated that the ruling coalition might struggle to regain the necessary seats for a majority, reflecting growing public discontent.