Ishiba Re-Elected as Japan's Prime Minister

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Facts

  • Shigeru Ishiba, leader of Japan's main ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Monday was designated for another term as prime minister by a vote in the two houses of the Diet.[1][2]
  • This comes after a runoff vote in the lower House of Representatives — the first since 1994 — against Yoshihiko Noda of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party, 221 to 160. Earlier, the House of Councillors voted to re-elect Ishiba.[3][4]
  • Ishiba retained most of his previous cabinet members, with changes in the posts of justice minister and farm minister because predecessors lost their seats in parliament. Additionally, land minister Tetsuo Saito became the leader of junior coalition partner Komeito.[4][5][6]
  • Last month, the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito coalition lost its majority in the 465-seat House of Representatives in its worst election loss in more than a decade, amid a financial misconduct scandal.[5][7]
  • In office since Oct. 1, Ishiba will now lead a minority government and have to pass a supplementary budget for the fiscal year through March.[8][9]
  • He is set to head to South America this week to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum in Peru and then the G-20 summit in Brazil, with a potential meeting with US Pres.-elect Donald Trump in the US toward the end of the trip.[8][10]

Sources: [1]Prime Minister's Office of Japan, [2]NHK, [3]The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shimbun, [4]The Asahi Shimbun, [5]Associated Press, [6]Kyodo News+, [7]Newsweek, [8]Reuters, [9]BBC News and [10]Bloomberg.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by Nikkei Asia and CNA. While the ruling coalition failed to secure a majority in the lower house in the snap general election last month, it's only natural that Ishiba stays as prime minister given that his political party remains the largest in the country. In fact, while his approval ratings are low, polls show most people believe Ishiba must remain in office.
  • Narrative B, as provided by The Japan Times and Japan Forward. That Ishiba won the parliamentary vote to stay prime minister doesn't change the fact that Japanese voters have left him and his ruling coalition without a clear mandate to govern the country. Once he's able to pass the budget bills, Ishiba must resign and allow the Liberal Democratic Party to choose another leader.