Japan’s Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba, has pledged to maintain his leadership following a heavy loss for his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in the recent general election. The election, which was called by Ishiba shortly after he assumed the party’s leadership, resulted in the LDP-led coalition losing its majority in parliament. This outcome marks the party’s poorest result in over a decade, casting uncertainty over Japan’s political future.

The LDP, in coalition with the smaller Komeito party, won only 215 seats—below the 233 required for a majority. This is the first time since 2009 that the LDP has lost control of the parliamentary majority. In a speech on Monday, Ishiba acknowledged the “severe judgment” from voters, expressing that the party must “humbly accept” the public’s desire for reform.

A Promise to Reform

Ishiba responded to the election loss by pledging to tackle issues within the party, particularly addressing the “money and politics” controversies that have plagued the LDP. With recent corruption and fundraising scandals diminishing public trust, Ishiba vowed to implement fundamental reforms to restore accountability.

“We need to respond to the people’s criticism,” Ishiba stated. He further committed to addressing inflation and revitalizing rural regions as key priorities of his administration.

Challenges in Forming a Government

Under Japan’s political structure, parliament must now convene within 30 days to select a prime minister. The LDP-Komeito coalition, lacking a majority, no longer has the unilateral power to pass legislation. While Ishiba has ruled out expanding his coalition, he intends to continue governing despite the limitations.

An alternative scenario would involve opposition parties uniting to form a new government. The largest opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP), increased its seats to 148, up from 98. However, forming a coalition among Japan’s opposition parties has historically been challenging due to internal divisions and low public support, with the CDP holding an approval rating of just 6.6% before the election.

A Period of Political Uncertainty

The snap election injects rare unpredictability into Japan’s typically stable political landscape. Ishiba assumed leadership of the LDP earlier this month following Fumio Kishida’s unexpected resignation. The election was seen as an opportunity for the LDP to rebuild public confidence.

Scandals and Public Discontent

The LDP’s reputation has suffered in recent years due to a series of high-profile scandals, including alleged ties to the controversial Unification Church, which critics describe as a “cult.” This connection, along with accusations that LDP lawmakers misused political fundraising funds for personal benefit, has fueled voter dissatisfaction and led to significant factional rifts within the party.

As Japan awaits the parliament’s decision on the next prime minister, Ishiba faces the challenge of restoring faith in the LDP while navigating a divided government. Whether he can successfully address public grievances and stabilize his administration remains to be seen.