Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner Komeito lost their majority in the lower house of parliament in the Oct 27 election after their worst result since 2009. But now with official backing from parliament, Ishiba is expected to depart this week to attend a meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Peru and then a Group of 20 leaders’ summit in Brazil early next week.
Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba won a runoff vote to stay in the job despite a national election setback, as he prepares for an expected meeting with US President-elect Donald Trump later this month.
Ishiba garnered 221 votes to secure his leadership position in the final round of a lower house ballot, winning the plurality needed to pull through in the runoff. Although he failed to gain a majority of the votes, he prevailed against main opposition party leader Yoshihiko Noda, who gained 160, following divisions in the opposition camp and a decision by a key smaller party to vote for its own leader.
