‘Weak leader’: Japan PM Ishiba has his work cut out on economy, US ties after surviving parliament vote, say analysts

NEED TO BOOST PUBLIC SUPPORT

Japan will hold elections next year for the less powerful upper house. The ruling coalition holds a slim majority there, which could be at risk if Ishiba cannot revive public trust roiled by a scandal over unrecorded donations to lawmakers, which came to light late last year.

Voters have also been frustrated with the high cost of living and stagnant wages.

Having survived the runoff vote, Ishiba said during a press conference on Monday that in light of the latest general election results, he thinks the LDP “needs to be reborn”.

One option he proposed is banning the use of non-taxable funds for political activities. He also said another option is creating a publicly accessible database on political donations, which he hopes to pass into law by the end of the year.

Taniguchi said Ishiba could sell this political funding reform to opposition parties in order to form an ad-hoc coalition.

“The LDP is struggling very much, and that’s going to be a boost for the opposition parties,” he added, pointing to “rampant” rumours that rank-and-file LDP members are set to oppose Ishiba.

“The opposition parties are sensing blood here, and they’re going to be opposed to whatever legislative bills the LDP is going to propose in the next parliamentary sessions.”

Ishiba’s main priority will be to boost public support for the ruling coalition before the upper house election, Taniguchi told CNA’s Asia First.

“Unlike in some other countries like the United Kingdom or India, the upper house in Japan does have a very strong veto power. In the event that the LDP loses the majority there as well, there is going to be a huge paralysis,” he added.

“The next several months will be very much crucial for Ishiba to gain support and trust, once again, from the public. Everything else is secondary.”