Japan's Ruling LDP Faces Potential Election Setback

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's leadership is at risk as polls suggest the LDP may lose its parliamentary majority for the first time in 15 years.

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), led by newly appointed Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, is struggling with a potential loss of majority in Japan's upcoming parliamentary elections.
Polls indicate that the LDP and its coalition partner Komeito might not secure the 233 seats needed for a majority in the lower house, forcing reliance on additional coalition partners.
A political funding scandal and rising inflation have contributed to declining support for the LDP, which has dominated Japanese politics for nearly seven decades.
Opposition parties, particularly the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, are expected to gain ground, though not enough to form a government independently.
The election results could impact Ishiba's ambitious defense reforms and economic policies, as the LDP may need to make concessions to maintain power.