Challenges for Japan's ruling party

The general election in Japan, with the official voting day yesterday (October 27), is considered by observers to be the most unpredictable election in years.

This stems from the severely damaged reputation of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) following internal political fundraising scandals, according to The Japan Times .

Japanese voters went to the polls on October 27.

Opposition factions, most notably the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP), have a chance to gain ground and secure favorable results in this year's general election. The election will choose 465 seats in the lower house from over 1,300 candidates. Vote counting began last night and results are expected today (October 28).

AFP, citing polls, reported that the LDP-led coalition may struggle to win the 233 seats needed to maintain its majority in the lower house. Before Japan's new Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru dissolved the lower house and called an early election, the coalition between the LDP and the Komeito party held 288 seats. In a speech in Tokyo on October 26, Ishiba apologized for the party's fundraising missteps and pledged to restart as an equal, fair, humble, and honest political party.

Experts believe the LDP still has the potential to win the most seats, but whether it can rally other parties to form a coalition to secure a majority remains uncertain. If it fails to win 233 seats, Prime Minister Ishiba's policies could face a deadlock in parliament .

Furthermore, in the final days of this year's election campaign, the LDP faced further criticism. Kyodo News reported on October 24th that the LDP was found to have transferred campaign support funds to several local branches, led by individuals involved in the political funding scandal and not officially endorsed by the party. LDP Secretary-General Moriyama Hiroshi stated that the money was not sent for campaign purposes but as part of the operating costs of the local branches, thereby expanding the party's influence.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/thach-thuc-cho-dang-cam-quyen-nhat-ban-185241027231702724.htm