The Japanese government resigns before the next prime ministerial election

The Japanese government, led by Shigeru Ishiba, resigned ahead of a special session of the Diet to elect a prime minister following an early election on October 27.

As a result of the election, the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Komeito Party lost its majority in the key lower house of parliament. However, it was thought that due to the lack of unity within the opposition ranks, they were still able to secure the election of Ishiba as prime minister and form a minority government.

If elected, Ishiba would form a second government within a day of his administration starting on October 1. Its composition is expected to remain largely unchanged, except The positions of the ministers were not re-elected to the parliament in the October 27 election. Thus, Keyosuke Suzuki will become Minister of Justice and Taku Eto will become head of the Ministry of Agriculture. The position of Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, traditionally held by the representative of the junior partner in the Komeito Party coalition, is expected to be filled by Hiromasa Nakano.

In the afternoon, the composition of the new government will be approved by Emperor Naruhito.

Ishiba was elected head of the then-ruling LDP on September 27. On October 1, he took control of the government and promptly dissolved the House of Representatives, calling for early elections on October 27 to assess the population. The result of the election was that the LDP and Komeito lost their majority.