Japan's ruling coalition under pressure in upper house elections
發佈日期: 2025-07-20 21:10
TVB News
Japanese voters headed to the polls today in a tightly contested upper house election that could unleash political turmoil.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's coalition need at least 50 seats to retain control of the 248-seat chamber, with half of the seats up for grabs.
Immigration concerns and rising prices threaten to weaken Ishiba's grip on power.
Voters are out in force in Japan as Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba chases a modest goal.
He's targeting only 50 seats from upper house parliamentary elections on Sunday.
Added to the 75 he already has, 125 seats for the coalition led by his Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito party is enough to maintain a majority.
The coalition had lost the more powerful lower house last October amid public frustration at soaring prices, stagnant incomes and social security payments.
Ishiba is also feeling the heat from potential 25 percent tariffs threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump on August 1st, with the two countries so far unable to secure a negotiated deal. Failure to secure a majority will put more pressure on his leadership.
Emerging as a major threat is the right-wing Sanseito party, which has an anti-foreigner agenda and wants to curb immigration, oppose foreign capital inflows and reverse gender equality programmes.
Office worker Satoko Takeshima said foreign investors are buying up property and making it difficult for Japanese people to afford homes.
She sees it as a moral issue and hopes proper regulations are put in place for foreign investors.
Some analysts say Ishiba faces a choice between sacrificing his leadership position and compromising on policy with some opposition parties.
Many Japanese, though, say foreigners are important to the well-being of the local economy.
Self-employed Daiichi Nasu said foreign labour is necessary, especially amid a labour shortage. He also said Japan should be more open to accepting refugees.
Office worker Yuko Tsuji said the current political situation is chaotic and she would therefore vote for the candidates who don't fuel division.
Ruled by the LDP for most of the post-war period, Japan has so far avoided major social division. Ishiba and his voter base are hoping to keep it that way.
