As Japan's Liberal Democratic Party grapples with projected losses in the Upper House elections, calls for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's resignation are growing louder from within his party. Exit polls suggest a major shift towards opposition parties, with Ishiba's leadership being heavily criticized amidst rising national concerns.
Calls Mount for Resignation of Japan's PM Amid Electoral Setback

Calls Mount for Resignation of Japan's PM Amid Electoral Setback
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba faces intense scrutiny as exit polls indicate a significant defeat for his party in recent parliamentary elections.
In the wake of parliamentary elections held on July 20, 2025, Japan's long-standing ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), is projected to experience a significant electoral setback. Early exit polls indicated that the LDP, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, would likely fail to secure necessary seats to maintain control in the Upper House of the bicameral Diet, Japan's legislative body.
The elections serve as a critical referendum on Ishiba's regime, which has faced mounting challenges, such as surging food prices, public sentiment against immigration policies, and the looming threat of tariffs from the United States. As results poured in, many political analysts observed that voters appeared to favor a spectrum of opposition groups, including a strong showing from right-wing populist factions.
Initial counts suggest that the LDP and its coalition partners may struggle to defend the 50 seats out of 66 they had up for re-election. In a worrying trend for the governing party, it was reported that as many as two-thirds of the 124 seats contested risked going to a range of rival parties.
Reaction within the LDP has been swift, with influential figures urging Ishiba to resign in light of the anticipated poor performance. Among them, former Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso expressed his discontent over Ishiba's continued leadership, signaling broader discontent among party ranks.
Despite the mounting pressure, Ishiba remained defiant in a televised interview, acknowledging the party's disappointing showing but asserting his commitment to the nation's influential responsibilities. He emphasized his belief that he still has "important duties to fulfill for the nation", underscoring the tension between party expectations and his resolve to stay in office.
The elections serve as a critical referendum on Ishiba's regime, which has faced mounting challenges, such as surging food prices, public sentiment against immigration policies, and the looming threat of tariffs from the United States. As results poured in, many political analysts observed that voters appeared to favor a spectrum of opposition groups, including a strong showing from right-wing populist factions.
Initial counts suggest that the LDP and its coalition partners may struggle to defend the 50 seats out of 66 they had up for re-election. In a worrying trend for the governing party, it was reported that as many as two-thirds of the 124 seats contested risked going to a range of rival parties.
Reaction within the LDP has been swift, with influential figures urging Ishiba to resign in light of the anticipated poor performance. Among them, former Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso expressed his discontent over Ishiba's continued leadership, signaling broader discontent among party ranks.
Despite the mounting pressure, Ishiba remained defiant in a televised interview, acknowledging the party's disappointing showing but asserting his commitment to the nation's influential responsibilities. He emphasized his belief that he still has "important duties to fulfill for the nation", underscoring the tension between party expectations and his resolve to stay in office.