The possibility of a handover of power to the opposition isn't zero, but there are far too many opposition parties for any of them to reach a majority,
He is a very stable politician,
If the ruling coalition or even just the LDP loses its majority, Ishiba will face harsh criticism from party members,
I think the majority of Japanese people trust Noda
Whether or not Ishiba resigns as LDP leader today, it seems unlikely that he will survive to lead a new government as prime minister … although it is possible he could stay on as caretaker,
We strongly hope for policy-oriented politics through the establishment of a stable government centred on the LDP-Komeito coalition,
Voters have handed us a harsh verdict and we have to humbly accept this result,
The question is what comes after that. Prime Minister (Shigeru) Ishiba may not quit so easily, and there can be a certain sort of cooperation with the opposition parties. But in any event, it will not be easy to form a coalition.”
The LDP and Komeito party may still choose a leader, but Ishiba may not get the approval of the majority of the Diet. This means that every time they try to pass a bill in the Diet, they have to negotiate and deal with the opposition party on an issue-by-issue basis,
If it comes to a situation where we must compete for the prime minister’s job, it’s only natural to go for it,
People expected fundamental reform of the LDP but all the measures were half-hearted. They did not completely expel those involved in the slush fund affair. Ishiba didn’t represent genuine renewal, and that’s one of the big reasons why this was the result,
These election returns suggest that Japan’s longer-term political crisis is far from over. Lower turnout suggests that almost a majority of voters remain so dismayed by their choices that they are choosing to stay home instead of vote,
On manifesto pledges, we're willing to work with any party, be they government or opposition,
It won't be possible for Ishiba to secure a stable government after the election because he floundered despite his push for party renewal,
Prime Minister Ishiba has been saying what needs to be said about the economy, diplomacy and security and he does not come across as dishonest,
It feels like more and more voters want to tighten the screws on the LDP this time, almost as a form of punishment. But what will come out of it? Another nightmarish change of government?"
Prime Minister Ishiba's decision to dissolve the lower house quickly indicates he did not pay attention to unaffiliated voters."
The criteria for withdrawing official endorsements are not clear, and I have no choice but to question why the party sent us funds" worth $130,000
When voters supporting the ruling party are dissatisfied with the state of the economy, they are quick to withdraw their support. But a similar trend is not observed among opposition supporters. This is what history tells us about the unique nature of Japanese voting behavior,
It's not just the number of seats in parliament that matters. The key in Japanese politics is whether politicians can end this sense of social stagnation" that has persisted since Abe