石破いしば首相しゅしょう 続投ぞくとう表明ひょうめいも自民党じみんとう内ないに責任せきにん問とう声こえ 結束けっそく図はかれるか課題かだいに

As a result of the House of Councillors election, the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito have become a minority ruling coalition in both houses of the Diet.

Prime Minister Ishiba has expressed his intention to remain in office, saying that national politics must not be brought to a standstill. However, there are voices within the Liberal Democratic Party calling for him to take responsibility, and the challenge will be whether he can unite the party.

In the House of Councillors election on July 20, the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito were unable to maintain a majority of seats as the ruling coalition, and following the House of Representatives, they have also become a minority ruling party in the House of Councillors.

Prime Minister Ishiba held a press conference as president of the Liberal Democratic Party on the 21st, stating, We have been given the seats to become the largest party.

The most important thing is to avoid causing stagnation in national politics, and we must fulfill our responsibilities to the country and its people, he said, expressing his intention to continue in office.

He also indicated that Secretary-General Moriyama and other executive members will remain in their positions, and that, as the ruling party with a minority in both the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors, they will seek to build consensus with opposition parties on each policy.

However, within the party, there are voices demanding accountability, such as Senator Shigeharu Aoyama calling for Prime Minister Ishibas resignation, arguing that a lame-duck administration cannot negotiate tariffs with the United States, and the Kochi Prefectural branch of the party deciding to soon request the party headquarters for the early resignation of the party president in accordance with the will of the people shown in the recent election.

On the other hand, former Economic Security Minister Kobayashi said, I want Prime Minister Ishiba to take responsibility as the head of the party, but if we keep dragging each other down within the party, politics wont last.

It’s about whether we can build a system for the party’s revival, he said.

The executive office plans to hold a joint meeting of both houses members on the 31st next week to explain that tariff negotiations are ongoing and to seek understanding for Prime Minister Ishibas continuation in office. The challenge will be whether they can achieve party unity.