TOKYO: Japanese lawmakers voted for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to stay on as leader on Monday, after his scandal-tarnished coalition lost its parliamentary majority in a lower house election last month.

Ishiba, who called the snap poll after taking office on Oct 1, must now run a fragile minority government as protectionist Donald Trump returns to office in main ally the US, tension rises with rivals China and North Korea, and domestic pressure mounts to rein in the cost of living.

His Liberal Democratic Party and coalition partner Komeito won the biggest bloc of seats in the election but lost the majority held since 2012, leaving him beholden to small opposition parties to pass his policy agenda.

“In light of the very challenging election, we must transform into a national party that serves the people, that empathizes with the peoples’ struggles, their misery, and their joy,” Ishiba said at a press conference after parliament voted to keep him in his job.

His imminent challenge is compiling a supplementary budget for the fiscal year through March, under pressure from voters and opposition parties to raise spending on welfare and take steps to offset rising prices.

With his premiership confirmed, Ishiba appointed three new cabinet ministers, one each for transport, justice and agriculture.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2024