In a shocking turn, Japan’s ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has lost its majority in parliament, plunging the nation into political uncertainty. Just a month after Ishiba took office, his snap election gamble appears to have backfired spectacularly, with the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) losing critical seats in response to public frustration over inflation and recent scandals. The LDP-Komeito coalition, which once held 279 seats, will now need to seek alliances with smaller parties or attempt to govern as a minority—a rare and challenging position for Japan’s historically dominant ruling party.
Meanwhile, the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan has surged to over 130 seats, fueling talk of a potential government change. Former Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, now leading the opposition, declared the result a turning point, signaling possible endgame scenarios for the LDP’s long-standing dominance. With coalition talks looming, Ishiba’s leadership and Japan’s policy stability are now hanging by a thread.
