Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Denies Resignation Rumors After Election Defeat

Kokcha News Agency: Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has denied reports that he plans to resign after his ruling coalition suffered a major setback in Sunday’s upper house election. The 68-year-old leader described the rumors as “completely unfounded,” despite mounting pressure to step down.

Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner Komeito failed to secure a majority in the House of Councillors (Sangiin), losing 19 seats and dropping from 141 to 122. This marks the first time in decades that the ruling coalition has lost its majority in both the upper and lower houses of Japan’s parliament.

Election Defeat and Calls for Resignation
The coalition’s failure to meet its pre-election target of winning at least 50 of the 125 contested seats has led to calls for Ishiba’s resignation. Opposition parties have also rejected the idea of forming an expanded coalition with the LDP and Komeito, further complicating the political landscape.

Despite the defeat, Ishiba has emphasized his commitment to avoiding political instability, particularly with the August 1 deadline for a U.S.-Japan tariff agreement looming. A source close to the Prime Minister told Reuters that Ishiba is not resigning immediately to prevent creating a political vacuum during this critical period.

Media Reports and Ishiba’s Response
Japanese media outlets have speculated that Ishiba will announce his resignation next month. However, Ishiba refuted these claims, stating, “Reports in the media about my intentions do not reflect the truth in any way.”

Rise of Nationalist Opposition
The election also saw the rise of the nationalist opposition party Sanseito, which increased its seats from 2 to 15, capitalizing on its “Japan First” slogan. Additionally, the number of female lawmakers in the House of Councillors reached a record high of 42, surpassing the previous record of 35 set in 2022.