Oct. 27 – Japan general elections

All 465 seats in Japan’s Lower House of Representatives will be up for grabs on?Sunday?during the country’s general election.

What’s happened so far? Set to take place a year earlier than most expected, the general election follows the?surprise resignation of former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who stepped down in August, in attempt to regain public trust amid ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s plummeting approval rating over a series of?political scandals?and?rising inflation. Shortly after?winning the divisive LDP leadership race?in late September, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba called for a snap election – a gamble seeking to solidify his support within the party. The LDP, in coalition with the Komeito party, has dominated most of Japan’s post-war political landscape, aside from a short-lived government led by center-left DPJ party from 2009 to 2012.?

The impact? With a divided opposition, many believe that the LDP will again return to office, as it remains the most popular party in Japan even in such times of economic challenges and political turmoil. A poll last weekend by the Kyodo News?put the LDP’s at 26.4 percent, substantially outpacing the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party’s 12.4 percent. But others?have suggested that the party could struggle?or even fail to retain a majority in the lower house. The upcoming election is not only an important test for Ishiba, determining whether he would be seen as capable of leading the divided party, but also have a profound impact on Japan’s economy and fragmented political scene.??

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