Shigeru Ishiba, Prime Minister of Japan (President of the Liberal Democratic Party), acknowledged on the 22nd, five days before the Japanese House of Representatives election (general election), that "it is very difficult for the ruling party to secure a majority."
According to Kyodo News, Prime Minister Ishiba made this statement during a campaign speech in Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture.
Having taken office as the new prime minister on the 1st of this month, Ishiba announced the sudden dissolution of the House of Representatives on the 9th and scheduled the general election for the 27th, expressing his intention to seek the public's trust in the new administration.
This move was interpreted as an effort to improve the Liberal Democratic Party's weakened position following the loss of public trust due to the 'political funding scandal' that caused controversy at the end of last year, as well as to strengthen Ishiba's own fragile standing within the party.
Earlier, the Asahi Shimbun reported on the 21st that a public opinion poll conducted nationwide via telephone and internet from the 19th to the 20th, targeting approximately 360,000 voters, indicated that the Liberal Democratic Party's seats in the House of Representatives (lower house) could decrease by about 50 from the current 247 seats, making it unlikely to achieve an outright majority (233 seats or more) in this election.
It also reported that the coalition partner Komeito Party's seats are expected to decline, casting doubt on whether the coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party, led by President Shigeru Ishiba, and Komeito will be able to achieve a majority as their election goal.
Kyodo News also reported on the same day that a survey conducted from the 20th to the 21st targeting about 190,000 voters nationwide showed that the Liberal Democratic Party might fall short of an outright majority in this general election, and with the Komeito Party's momentum slowing, it is difficult to conclude that the ruling coalition as a whole will secure a majority.
Meanwhile, during a support campaign in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, Prime Minister Ishiba referred to Taiwan as a country, saying, "Taiwan is also a country prone to earthquakes."
Kyodo News stated, "The Japanese government does not recognize Taiwan as a country, so this appears to have been a slip of the tongue."
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