Japan PM Ishiba's fate hangs in balance after big election loss

Diet will vote to choose leader, with Ishiba-Noda showdown likely

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will face a postelection scramble for power following his Liberal Democratic Party's loss of its majority in the Oct. 27 lower house election. © Reuters

Nikkei staff writers

October 28, 2024 07:31 JST

TOKYO -- Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba now faces an uncertain political future as the coalition led by his Liberal Democratic Party lost its lower house majority in Sunday's general election.

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. If Ishiba is elected, he will form a second cabinet. If the Diet choses a new leader, Ishiba's tenure will be the shortest since World War II -- even briefer than that of Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni, who served as prime minister for 54 days.