Japan's ruling party loses 3 key elections in blow to Suga
Japan’s ruling party lost all three parliamentary by-elections Sunday, loosening Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s grip on power ahead of national elections later this year
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Japan’s ruling party lost all three parliamentary by-elections held Sunday, loosening Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s grip on power ahead of national elections later this year.
Suga said he takes seriously the results that are seen as reflecting voter discontent with his government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic as well as scandals involving his ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
“I humbly accept the election results as the judgement by the people,” Suga told reporters Monday. (asterisk)We will further examine the results and correct what needs to be corrected."
The votes to fill vacant seats — one in the lower, more powerful, house and two in the the upper house — were the first significant elections since Suga took office in mid-September. Two of the seats were left by ruling party lawmakers who resigned over money-for-favors scandals, and the third had been held by a main opposition lawmaker who died of COVID-19.
The by-elections were considered a major litmus test for Suga, who must call national polls before the Oct. 21 end of the four-year term for the lower house. His term as prime minister also ends on Sept. 30.
Suga had enjoyed high support ratings of around 70% when he replaced Shinzo Abe who resigned as prime minister because of health reasons after becoming Japan’s longest-serving leader.
But Suga has seen his popularity plunge over a series of money-for-favors scandals by his party lawmakers and criticisms over his handling of pandemic measures and slow progress on vaccinations. Suga has also faced criticisms for pushing for the Olympics amid the pandemic uncertainty.
The seats from Hokkaido, Nagano and Hiroshima were won by candidates backed by the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan
“Voters made a severe verdict on the Suga Cabinet,” said the CDPJ secretary general secretary general Tetsuro Fukuyama. “Voters have become increasingly discontent with scandals of politics and money, and slow responses to the coronavirus."
A leadership change, however, is unlikely since opposition parties are not quite seen as a responsible, viable alternative.