TOKYO: Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida encountered a major setback on Monday as his scandal-plagued ruling party suffered a blow, losing three parliamentary seats in weekend by-elections. Results from local election authorities and media exit polls showed that the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), led by Kishida, lost all three seats up for grabs to the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the nation’s largest opposition party.
The losses in Tokyo, Shimane, and Nagasaki come as a major blow to Kishida’s leadership and could potentially jeopardize his position as party leader in an upcoming vote later this year. The defeat follows a tumultuous period for the LDP, marred by a kickback scandal linked to political fundraising parties, which has rocked the party’s foundation.
Factions within the LDP have admitted to systematic failures in reporting incomes from fundraisers over the years, leading to a loss of trust among voters. Toshimitsu Motegi, LDP secretary-general and Kishida’s close ally, acknowledged the gravity of the situation, expressing determination to regain the voters’ trust despite the setback.
The election losses have raised concerns within the LDP about Kishida’s leadership, with speculation mounting that lawmakers may move to oust him from power before his term as party leader expires in September. The influential Nikkei business daily described the Kishida administration as standing “on the edge of a cliff” following the electoral defeats, highlighting the party’s decline.
While the LDP-led ruling bloc maintains a comfortable legislative majority, the loss of parliamentary seats underscores the challenges facing Kishida’s leadership. With no clear alternative immediately available to replace him among LDP members, the party faces internal divisions and uncertainty about its future direction.
The by-election results were compounded by the circumstances surrounding the vacant seats. Two lawmakers were forced to resign over separate scandals, while the third seat became available following the death of a senior party official embroiled in the fundraising scandal.
