Ishiba looks set to be reelected PM as opposition votes split

Opposition in Japan just can't take advantage from the given votes.

Elected and then to be re-elected and so on and on.....endless elections !

Wonderful !

Opposition in Japan just can't take advantage from the given votes.

"Opposition in Japan" is pretty close to an oxymoron.

If you were ever wondering why can't the opposition ever do better: because the lack the IQ for it and drop every chance they have ;) . It would have been a good opportunity to make history, but you need grown-ups for that...

So the opposition supporting the sitting PM. What do they oppose then exactly? As a voter of the opposition party I would be pretty pissed that my opposing vote isn't an opposition vote after all

Just get on with it already, a majority of the smaller parties are ex LDP or very aligned with conservatism any way. On top of this the LDP won the most seats.

Sure the LDP lost the most seats also, but that is more a reflection on Ishiba as leader and not so much LDP scandal. A majority of slushfund candidates actually won their seats. If there is something that must be done, it's to ditch Ishiba, someone has to face the heat.

Sure he can split the opposition. But can he lead?

The NomadToday 08:06 am JST

So the opposition supporting the sitting PM.

Not really. The main opposition is the CDP, and they don't support the sitting PM. Noda is running against Ishiba.

The LDP won the most seats, and is trying to build support to govern. Perhaps (probably?) they will govern without a majority then, if it doesn't work, call another election in the relatively near future. The people will then get the chance to choose again, and it could well lead to a CDP government.

That's the way it works both in Japan (though rare) and in other countries.

perhaps (probably?) they will govern without a majority then, if it doesn't work, call another election

Yes, the LDP should just get on with it, a minority government but with 'likeminded' minor parties is not bad. I just hope if an election is called Ishiba is not the leader, given how disastrous it has been with him at the helm, even worse than the last time the LDP lost power.

Japan is emerging from structural impediments, it really need a party majority to bring on changes to entrenched issues, like wages, supply chain security etc.

Opposition in Japan just can't take advantage from the given votes.

"Opposition in Japan" is pretty close to an oxymoron.

There is more value in the culture of maintaining harmony and working together rather than to oppose. Democracy was imposed on the Japanese authoritatively to begin with whether they liked it or not. They had no choice.

People in the media keep saying DPP "quadrupled" its vote share...while conveniently leaving out the fact that that "massive" increase in seats led the party to score...barely 10% of the total house seats up for grabs? *By the way, by my count, they had 11 seats before the election, and 28 after...how is that "quadrupling" again?

Far from being a "kingmaker" like the left-leaning has been crowing for days now, Tamaki's DPP seems stubbornly happy to keep the crown on the reigning king's head, and that is none other than Mr. "Lost The Majority" Ishiba.

According to my count, and correct me if I'm wrong, but it would take literally every party not presently in the ruling coalition (non-LDP, non Komeito) to agree just to barely scrape up a highly unstable majority of...5? And that's if you lump parties like the "right wing and conservative" Ishin Party, the "rightwing populist" Sanseito, and the "ultranationalist and rightwing populist" Conservative party in with the Communists and "leftwing populaist" Reiwa party. In other words...it's a pipe dream concocted by fantasizing leftleaning journalists born out of desperation, and it ain't gonna fly in the real world.

The REAL "kingmaker" (and it's obvious why the media would never say this, given the role of the Isshin party in wiping out the leftist CDPs hopes of ever having its own majority thanks to Kansai voters) is...Baba Nobuyuki.

Ishii, leader of Komeito has resigned to account for lost seats. Obviously has more self awareness than Ishiba.

Opposition in Japan just can't take advantage from the given votes.

This only additionally underlines that they belong there.

Democratic govs should have a 'harmony' that accepts all the views of the elected officials, I Dislike this opposition tag. Communication with all reps allocated podium time when rightfully requested. Pls do not reference UK, where chancellor faces to opposition to announce budgie. all duly elected officials are equal??

Such political game distracts public eyes from unsolved issues such as slush fundraising, Unification Church cult or Noto peninsula quake and flood, as ever.

Hito BitoNov. 1  11:58 am JST

The REAL "kingmaker" (and it's obvious why the media would never say this, given the role of the Isshin party in wiping out the leftist CDPs hopes of ever having its own majority thanks to Kansai voters) is...Baba Nobuyuki.

So Isshin and those Kansai folks who voted for them are the ones responsible for Ishiba staying on as PM of a weak LDP minority government? You go on about "leftists" a lot, don't you, even though the CDP clearly tacked towards the centre a bit more and clearly attracted votes from centrists who might otherwise have kept voting LDP.