Shigeru Ishiba was re-elected by the Lower House of the Japanese Parliament with only 60 votes ahead of his rival, Yoshihiko Noda
Text: RFI/AFP
The Prime Minister of Japan, Shigeru Ishiba, was re-elected to office this Monday after a parliamentary vote, but he will lead a minority government after the recent legislative elections that were disastrous for his party.
Ishiba was re-elected by members of the Lower House of Parliament with 221 votes in favor, compared to 160 for his rival Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the main opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP).
Since there was no majority in the first vote, a second round had to be held to decide between the two candidates who won the first, something unprecedented since 1994.
Ishiba took office at the beginning of October, after having been elected leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and called early elections with which he hoped to consolidate his mandate as head of Government.
But voters inflicted on the LDP its worst defeat since 2009, unhappy over a party financing scandal and inflation.
*Read also: Japanese anti-atomic weapons organization Nihon Hidankyo wins the Nobel Peace Prize
As a result, the country could find itself in a political dead end with a parliament without a clear majority.
On the one hand, the PLD and its ally, Komeito (center-right), lost their absolute majority but remain the largest bloc in the powerful lower house of Parliament.
On the other hand, the opposition parties are deeply divided on many key issues, but their support will be essential to pass laws.
The PLD made a move towards the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), a small centrist formation that has agreed to cooperate occasionally.
«To stay in power, Ishiba must approve the government budget this winter. This means that the LDP will have to make concessions and seek alliances,” Tomoaki Iwai, a professor at Nihon University, explained to AFP.
In its negotiations with the LDP, the PDP has already demanded tax cuts and energy subsidies that economists say would significantly reduce government tax revenue in Japan.
Parallel to these delicate negotiations, Ishiba is also facing discontent within his party, which lost dozens of seats – including those holding ministers – in the October 27 elections.
The Ishiba government’s popularity rating barely exceeds 30%, but polls show that the majority of public opinion believes that he should remain in office.
Post Views: 92
