Japan's PM Ishiba vows to stay on despite bruising election loss
Japan's ruling coalition has lost its majority in the country's upper house, but Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has said he has no plans to quit.
The coalition, made up of the dominant Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior partner Komeito, lost its majority, securing only 47 of the 50 seats needed to maintain control of the 248-member chamber.
Sunday’s election, held amid growing public discontent over rising living costs, inflation—particularly food prices such as rice—and mounting concerns about potential U.S. trade tariffs, delivered a sharp rebuke to the government. The voting took place for half of the upper house seats, with members serving six-year terms.
Speaking shortly after the results were announced, Ishiba acknowledged the outcome, saying he “humbly accepts the people's verdict” but emphasized that his priority remains on navigating key trade talks and addressing economic concerns. “This is not the time to step away,” he stated firmly during a press conference.
This electoral defeat comes on the heels of the coalition's earlier loss of its majority in the more influential lower house last year, weakening the government’s legislative power and raising questions about its ability to implement policies effectively.
The opposition Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) capitalized on the public's dissatisfaction, gaining 22 seats and emerging as a stronger counterforce. Analysts say the result reflects deep-rooted frustration with Ishiba's leadership, especially his perceived inability to rein in inflation and his handling of recent political scandals that have plagued the LDP.
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