Japan's Kishida Administration Faces Defeats from House of Representatives By-elections to Gubernatorial Elections

Approval Ratings Still in the 'Resignation Crisis 20% Range'

Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) suffered a defeat in the local government head elections held on the 26th, following its crushing loss in the House of Representatives by-election in April amid a 'slush fund scandal.'

On the 27th, Asahi Shimbun and other outlets reported that Yasutomo Suzuki, former mayor of Hamamatsu, endorsed by the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party and the Democratic Party for the People, defeated Shinichi Omura, former vice governor of Shizuoka Prefecture and the LDP's candidate, to win the Shizuoka gubernatorial election.

The election was held after former Shizuoka Governor Heita Kawakatsu resigned this month amid controversy over remarks that were seen as dismissive toward certain professional groups.

The Constitutional Democratic Party and the Democratic Party for the People actively supported Suzuki, with party leaders and former prime ministers visiting the area. In contrast, the LDP's executives and cabinet members refrained from local support due to the slush fund issue.

In the April House of Representatives by-election, the LDP lost all three seats it previously held to the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party.

Prime Minister Kishida, returning from the trilateral summit of Japan, China, and South Korea on the day of the election, commented on the defeat, saying, "I want to analyze the election results and utilize them to advance national governance, including political reform."

Regarding the possibility of dissolving the House of Representatives next month to hold an early general election, he stated, "I am fully committed to political reform and other urgent tasks that cannot be postponed, and I am not considering anything else."

It is reported that Prime Minister Kishida plans to boost his approval ratings through measures such as implementing income and resident tax cuts next month, aiming for re-election as LDP president in September or a victory in an early general election following the dissolution of the House of Representatives to regain power.

However, local media analyzed that the Kishida administration, which is recording approval ratings in the 20% range, has suffered a blow to its governance due to consecutive election defeats.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is visiting South Korea on the 26th to attend the Korea-China-Japan Summit at Seoul Airport in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@