Japan: Ishiba Re-elected in Runoff Election

Shigeru Ishiba was again elected prime minister of Japan.

Having won elections within the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in early October after scandals engulfed Fumio Kishida, he became the new prime minister and immediately called an election, which political analysts say dictated a consolidation of his position.

But the October 27 elections did not go as expected, and the LDP lost its absolute majority (a rare fact, given that it has governed the country almost continuously for decades), making a runoff with elected deputies necessary. In any case, Ishiba was re-elected by parliament on November 11, as opposition parties, despite having more seats, were divided. Ishiba thus received 221 votes against 160 for Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the main opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP). The total number of seats in the lower house is 465, so Ishiba will lead a minority government.