Political situation in Japan

Weak election for the government in Japan – loses majority

The ruling coalition in Japan is losing its majority in the upper house, one of two chambers in the country's parliament. This is clear after elections on Sunday, where half of the seats in the chamber were at stake, Reuters reports.

At 9 p.m. Swedish time, not all seats have been counted, but it is clear that the ruling coalition cannot retain its majority. It is described as a painful defeat for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and his party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which in October received its weakest result in 15 years, then in the lower house.

He has no plans to resign and points out that "all strength and energy" should be put into tariff negotiations with the United States.

- We absolutely must not destroy these negotiations.

Expert: Conservatives fleeing the Prime Minister's party

Parties further to the right have won over the conservative voters of the Japanese ruling party LDP. This assessment is made by Japan expert Jeffrey Hall after the ruling coalition lost its majority in the upper house.

Many who supported the former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe believe that the current leader Shigeru Ishiba is not conservative enough, Hall tells the BBC.

- They think he lacks the nationalist historical perspective and the tough stance towards China that Abe had.