Japan’s ruling coalition loses majority, election results are balanced

JapanRussia’s ruling coalition lost its parliamentary majority in a rout in Sunday’s national elections, adding to uncertainty over the composition of the next government and the prospects for the world’s fourth-largest economy.

prime minister Shigeru Ishiba The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has ruled Japan for most of its post-war history, and junior coalition partner Komeito won 215 seats in the lower house of parliament, public broadcaster NHK reported.

That’s down from the 279 seats they previously held and the coalition’s worst electoral performance since it briefly lost power in 2009.

“This election has been very difficult for us,” a somber-looking Ishiba told TV Tokyo.

Keiichi Ishii of Komeito, who took over as the party’s new leader last month, lost in his constituency.