Ishiba had aimed to secure at least the majority mark with Komeito, recognizing that the LDP would not retain the 247 seats it held before the election. Falling short of that goal would mark the first time the LDP has lost a coalition majority in an election since 2009.
Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party is set to lose its majority in Sunday’s election, according to a forecast from public broadcaster NHK, leaving in the balance whether the ruling coalition will hold on to power.
Voter discontent over a slush-fund scandal appears to have pummeled support for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s party, leaving it unclear if the LDP and its ruling partner Komeito will secure the 233 seats needed to maintain a majority in the lower house of parliament, according to an NHK exit poll. Similar surveys by other media pointed more clearly to the coalition losing its majority.
