Japan's ruling coalition led by PM Ishiba loses majority in upper house election

Japan's ruling coalition, led by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba failed to secure a majority in the 248-member upper house in a crucial parliamentary election on Monday, AP reported citing local media.

The Liberal Democratic Party and its ally Komeito had to get 50 seats in addition to the 75 seats they already have to retain their majority. The coalition currently has 47 seast with only one seat left to be decided.

Meanwhile, the fringe far-right Sanseito party turned out to be one of the biggest winners, gaining support with warnings of a "silent invasion" of immigrants, and pledges for tax cuts and welfare spending.


The party emerged out of YouTube during the Covid-19 pandemic by spreading conspiracy theories about vaccinations and a cabal of global elites. The party broke into mainstream politics with its "Japanese First" campaign.

Public broadcaster NHK projected the party to win at least 22 seats, a massive gain from one that it secured three years ago. However, it has only three seats in the more powerful lower house.

"The phrase Japanese First was meant to express rebuilding Japanese people's livelihoods by resisting globalism. I am not saying that we should completely ban foreigners or that every foreigner should get out of Japan," Sohei Kamiya, the party's leader, said in an interview with local broadcaster Nippon Television after the election.

The loss to Ishiba and his ally is another blow, making it a minority in both houses following its October defeat in the lower house election. This will worsen Japan's political instability. This is the first time the LDP has lost a majority in both houses of parliament since the party's foundation in 1955.

Despite the loss, Ishiba expressed determination to stay on and not create a political vacuum at a time threats like the US tariff loom. However, he could face calls from within his party to step down or find another coalition partner.

"I will fulfill my responsibility as head of the No. 1 party and work for the country," he said.

Ishiba aimed a simple majority of 125 seats meaning his coalition needed to win 50 seats. Exit poll results released seconds after the ballots closed Sunday night mostly showed a major setback for Ishiba's coalition.

The LDP alone won 39 seats, better than most exit poll projections of 32, and remains the No. 1 party in the parliament, known as the Diet.

Ishiba said the coalition's poor showing was because his government's measures to combat price increases had yet to reach many people.

"It's a tough situation. I take it humbly and sincerely," Ishiba told a live interview with NHK.

The election result will not trigger a change of government immediately as the upper house lacks the power to file a no-confidence motion against a leader, but it will deepen uncertainty. The PM could face calls from within the LDP party to step down or find another coalition partner.