Japan to convene special Diet session on PM selection on Nov 11

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Japan to convene special Diet session on PM selection on Nov 11
Shigeru Ishiba, Japan’s prime minister and leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), reacts during a press conference at the party’s headquarters in Tokyo on October 28, 2024. Ishiba said on October 28 he will stay in office despite his party losing its majority, saying he would not create a “political vacuum”. (PHOTO / AFP)

TOKYO – Japan’s government and ruling coalition are arranging to convene a special Diet session to vote on the prime minister post on Nov 11, Kyodo News reported Monday.

If Shigeru Ishiba is elected, he will form a second cabinet. If the parliament chooses a new leader, Ishiba’s tenure as prime minister will be the shortest since World War II, the report said.

According to the Constitution, Ishiba’s current cabinet will resign when the Diet convenes for a special session that must be held within 30 days of a general election. Both houses will hold a fresh vote to select a prime minister.

On Sunday’s general election, Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its partner Komeito secured 215 of the 465 seats in the lower house election, falling short of the majority threshold for the first time in 15 years.

Also on Monday, Ishiba said he will continue as prime minister to lead the government and tackle growing economic and security challenges after his ruling bloc suffered a crushing defeat in the general election the day before.

ALSO READ: Voting for Japan’s lower house election starts in tightening races

Ishiba, head of the LDP, described the election outcome, in which the ruling coalition, for the first time in 15 years, lost its majority in the 465-member House of Representatives, as “harsh,” while stressing “we cannot afford a political stalemate.”

At a press conference held at LDP headquarters on Monday, Ishiba dismissed the idea of changing the ruling coalition’s composition for now but expressed a desire to incorporate policy ideas from the opposition camp.

While the LDP’s goal of retaining its majority along with its coalition partner Komeito was not achieved, Ishiba vowed to fundamentally reform the party to restore voter confidence affected by a slush fund scandal.

READ MORE: Japan’s ruling LDP at risk of losing majority in election, media polls show

The main reason behind the election defeat is that “we failed to address people’s suspicion, distrust and anger over the underreporting of political funds and the issue of money in politics,” Ishiba said.

The LDP alone only secured 191 seats, much less than the 247 seats it held prior to the election, while the main opposition, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, surged to 148 seats from 98.

The LDP’s election strategy chief Shinjiro Koizumi resigned on Monday to take responsibility in light of the party’s dismal election results, local media reported.

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