Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba was re-elected on Monday following a parliamentary vote, but will have to be content with a fragile hold on power after recent legislative elections, which were disastrous for his party.
Shigeru Ishiba took office in early October, after being elected head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and quickly called early elections which, he hoped, would consolidate his mandate as leader. of the government.
Instead, voters dissatisfied with recurring inflation for more than two years and frustrated for several months by a “slush fund” scandal which had contributed to the collapse of his predecessor Fumio Kishida, inflicted on the PLD its worst result since 2009.
Political impasse
As a result, the archipelago could find itself in a political impasse with a Parliament without a clear majority. In the wake of the vote, Shigeru Ishiba announced a new government, replacing ministers who lost their seats in the elections. There are still only two women among the 20 members of the government.
On the one hand, the conservative PLD and its ally, the center-right Komeito, have lost an absolute majority but nevertheless remain the largest bloc in the powerful lower house of Parliament.
On the other hand, opposition parties are deeply divided on many key issues and unable to oust Ishiba, but nevertheless remain essential to pass laws.
Second round
On Monday, Shigeru Ishiba was reappointed to his post by the elected representatives of the lower house of Parliament with 221 votes, against 160 for his rival Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the main opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party (PDC).
A second round of voting had to be organized, in the absence of a majority, to decide between the two candidates who came first in the first round – a first since 1994.
The ruling bloc will now have to deal with other blocs to hope to have its program adopted, and has requested help from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), a small centrist group which has agreed to cooperate piecemeal, rather than to join the coalition.
The specter of inflation
The Ishiba government’s approval rating is just above 30%, but polls show a majority of the public believes he should remain prime minister.
Shigeru Ishiba faces a road strewn with obstacles, since both the Americans and Japanese MPs are likely to push him to increase public spending and at the same time reduce taxes, according to analysts. Possible new US customs duties on Chinese and Japanese products could fuel inflation.
ats/miro
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