Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is facing challenges as his governing party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), endured a major blow by losing all three seats in Sunday's parliamentary by-elections. The LDP's defeat is largely attributed to its connection to a longstanding corruption scandal that erupted last year, leading to a loss of public trust in Kishida's leadership.
The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ), the main opposition party with liberal-leaning views, emerged victorious in the Shimane, Nagasaki, and Tokyo districts in the by-elections, marking a significant political shift. CDPJ leader Kenta Izumi highlighted the voters' desire for political reforms and expressed readiness to push for early national elections if the governing party's reform efforts lag behind.
The loss in the Shimane prefecture has particularly shaken the governing party, potentially weakening Kishida's position within the LDP ranks. The defeat raises concerns that LDP lawmakers may seek to replace Kishida to improve their chances in the upcoming general election, jeopardizing his prospects of securing another term in the party presidential race in September. Kishida's popularity has plummeted since the corruption scandal came to light, despite his efforts to address the issue through Cabinet reshuffles, internal investigations, and reform initiatives.