Japan's ruling party failed to win a majority in the general election...Ishiba in a tight spot

[Anchor]
Japan's political community is expected to be in a tailspin as the ruling coalition and the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan failed to secure a majority of seats in the general election.

As a result of this general election, it is predicted that the Liberal Democratic Party will take responsibility for Prime Minister Ishiba and move to step down in earnest.

I'm connecting to the local area in Japan. Correspondent Kim Se-ho!

[Reporter]
Yes. It's Tokyo.

[Anchor]

As a result of the general election of the Japanese House of Representatives, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party was defeated, so please tell us the current status of securing seats.

[Reporter]
Yes. This general election in Japan can be summed up as the collapse of the majority of the ruling party and the progress of the opposition party.

Ishiba's ruling Liberal Democratic Party secured 191 seats, while the ruling New Komeito Party secured only 24 seats.

In addition to failing to pass the majority alone, it was far below the 233 majority of 465 seats in the Komeito Party.

In particular, the Liberal Democratic Party has two incumbent ministers from the Ishiba Cabinet, including the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries,
The defeat of Keiichi Ishii in Gongdang,
, is a symbolic sign of the ruling party's defeat.

It is the first time in 15 years that the Liberal Democratic Party has missed a majority since handing over to the former Democratic Party in 2009.

The biggest reason for this result is the LDP slush fund scandal at the end of last year and the resulting distrust.

Criticism spread further after it was revealed that the party provided support funds to lawmakers who were involved in the slush fund and excluded the nomination.

On the other hand, the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party, which has been focusing on the Liberal Democratic Party's slush fund issue in this election campaign, has 148 seats, compared to 98 seats,

The People's Democratic Party also made strides by significantly increasing the number of seats from seven to 28, more than three times the number of seats.

The total number of seats in the opposition party was 250, exceeding the 215 seats in the ruling party of the Liberal Democratic Party and Gongjin.

[Anchor]
It was an election in which the fate of the Ishiba administration was at stake, so how do you forecast the impact on the political situation in the future?

[Reporter]
Immediately after taking office on the 1st, Prime Minister Ishiba dissolved the House of Representatives for the shortest period in history and threw a winning move to hold a general election.

It was intended to capitalize on expectations for the launch of a new regime at a time when the party's foundation was weak, but
The failure to secure a majority of
is expected to lead to fierce responsibility within the party.

There is a possibility that Ishiba's move to step down, centered on the opposition within the party, will also begin in earnest.

Prime Minister Ishiba said he was severely judged by the results, but indicated that he had no intention of stepping down.

[Shigeru Ishiba / Japanese Prime Minister: I think that the results have been quite severe so far. From the middle of the election, I thought it would be a very difficult election.

On the other hand, the Constitutional Democratic Party, the main opposition party, which has made great strides, is expected to use this momentum to try to unite the opposition party three times and work on a regime change.

[Noda Yoshihiko / Leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party, Former Prime Minister: I think regime change is the biggest political reform. If there is an opportunity, other parties will respond seriously based on the election results.]

In a special parliamentary session next month, the existing cabinet will resign and re-elect a prime minister to form a new government.

In the special parliamentary prime minister nomination election, among the candidates for prime minister representing each party, a candidate who wins a majority of parliamentary votes is nominated as prime minister,

If neither candidate wins a majority, the top 1 and 2 will hold a runoff vote to determine the prime minister.

The LDP could be in jeopardy of its position as prime minister if it fails to secure a majority in partnership with opposition forces other than the Komeito before the special session of parliament,

In this situation, it is possible to change the prime minister if all the opposition seats are gathered, but it is not easy to realize as the lines between the opposition parties are different.

The Constitutional Democratic Party also considers next year's upper house elections rather than trying to change the government immediately,

As we continue dialogue and cooperation with other opposition parties, we are expected to focus first on a long-term plan to regain power.

I'm Kim Se-ho of YTN in Tokyo.