JAPANESE PM ISHIBA URGES PARTY UNITY FOLLOWING MAJOR ELECTION SETBACK

TOKYO, Oct 28 (Bernama-Kyodo) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), called for party unity on Monday following a crushing defeat in the general election that could jeopardise his position as head of the government.

The LDP's election strategy chief, Shinjiro Koizumi, resigned to take responsibility after the LDP and its junior coalition partner, the Komeito party, lost their majority in the House of Representatives on Sunday, Kyodo News Agency reported.

The LDP has begun internal discussions on ways to sustain Ishiba’s government ahead of a special parliamentary session to elect the next prime minister, as opposition parties have ruled out joining the coalition Cabinet.

Meanwhile, the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ), which gained seats in the lower house, is also exploring potential alliances to pursue a change in government.

The ruling coalition secured 215 of the 465 seats in the lower chamber, a sharp decline from its previous 288, falling short of Ishiba’s objective to retain a majority.

Under the Constitution, a special Diet session must be convened within 30 days following the lower house election.

Ishiba, who assumed office only on Oct 1, had initially considered convening the session on Nov 7. However, his government is now likely to revise the plan to allow additional time to secure a majority for the prime ministerial vote, sources close to the matter said.

In a related development, the leaders of two opposition parties, traditionally backed by Rengo, the Japanese Trade Union Confederation, met with Tomoko Yoshino, head of Japan’s largest labour union, a day after the general election.

CDPJ leader Yoshihiko Noda, a former prime minister who took leadership of the party in late September, stated he would engage in “sincere” discussions with other opposition parties leading up to the special Diet session.

Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the Democratic Party for the People, initially assured Yoshino that his party would not join the LDP-Komeito coalition.

His party and the CDPJ are both successors of the now-defunct Democratic Party of Japan.

However, after the talks, Tamaki told reporters that his party remains open to policy coordination discussions with other parties, including the LDP and the CDPJ, and added that he plans to vote for himself in the session rather than for Noda.

The election outcome presents a significant challenge for Ishiba, who aims to rebuild the LDP ahead of the House of Councillors election next summer.

-- BERNAMA-KYODO