【随時ずいじ更新;こうしん】】石破;いしば首相しゅしょう続投ぞくとう理解りかい求もとめる 一方いっぽうで退陣たいじん迫せまる声こえ相次あいつぐ

At a joint meeting of both houses of the Liberal Democratic Party following their defeat in the House of Councillors election, Prime Minister Ishiba explained that he would steadily implement the Japan-U.S. agreement regarding U.S. tariff measures and sought understanding for his continuation in office.

On the other hand, Secretary-General Moriyama indicated that he would clarify his own responsibility once the review of the election is completed.

The joint meeting of both houses, which has been taking place on the 8th floor of the Liberal Democratic Party headquarters since 3:30 p.m., is still ongoing.

At the beginning, Prime Minister Ishiba said about the results of the House of Councillors election, The outcome was extremely severe, and I deeply and sincerely apologize for losing many seats.

I would like to carefully consider why this result occurred.

On top of that, I want to do my utmost to steadily implement the agreement on tariff negotiations with the United States and make sure everything is perfect.

I want to fulfill my responsibility so that a political vacuum is never created for the nation or its people.

The day after the election, he mentioned the unfamiliar phrase sekishin houkoku and stated, With a completely honest and sincere heart, I want to face the future with the intention of serving the nation and its people, seeking understanding for his continuation in office.

Moriyama, the Secretary-General, also said, We have received a harsh verdict from the people, and we must take it solemnly.

Based on the election results, we would like to establish a “House of Councillors Election Review Committee” and promptly analyze the results and identify any issues.

I would like to compile the report by sometime in August.

I would like to clarify my own responsibility as the Secretary-General once things have settled down.

After this, the informal meeting was held behind closed doors. According to those involved, while some expressed support for Prime Minister Ishiba’s continuation in office, there were also calls for the executive leadership to step down, as well as repeated opinions requesting the convening of a joint plenary meeting of both houses in order to hold them accountable through the party’s official decision-making body.

After the meeting, Prime Minister Ishiba is scheduled to speak to the press.

On the other hand, the General Meeting of Diet Members of Both Houses is, according to the Liberal Democratic Partys rules, the official decision-making body second only to the party convention.

It is stipulated that particularly important matters regarding the party’s management and parliamentary activities are to be deliberated and decided, and in cases of particular urgency, decisions made at the general meeting may substitute for resolutions of the party convention.

The General Assembly is usually held on the convocation day of the ordinary Diet session in January each year, but if a request is made by one-third or more of the partys Diet members, it must be convened within seven days.

In 2009, during the final days of the Aso administration, some mid-level and younger volunteer lawmakers, including former Secretary-General Nakagawa, conducted a petition demanding the holding of a general meeting in order to review the defeat in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election.

At that time, it is said that more than one-third of the signatures had been collected, and even Prime Minister Ishiba, who was the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries at the time, also signed.

However, the executive decided to hold an informal meeting instead of a general meeting, and Prime Minister Aso called for party unity.

After that, the House of Representatives was dissolved, the Democratic Party came to power, and the Liberal Democratic Party fell into the opposition.