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Japan PM Ishiba says will stay in office despite election setback

Japan PM Ishiba says will stay in office despite election setback

Sunday’s snap election was the governing party’s worst result in 15 years, exit polls and media showed. Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has pledged to stay in office despite receiving a major blow in Sunday’s snap election he called himself to shore up more support for his party. Ishiba told reporters on Monday he would not allow a “political vacuum” to occur after Japan’s ruling coalition lost its parliamentary majority in a significant defeat for his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has governed the country almost continuously since 1955. Ishiba, 67, called the vote days after assuming office on October 1. But voters, angry at a funding scandal, punished the LDP by reducing it to 191 seats, down from 259 in the 465-member lower house of parliament. LDP’s coalition partner Komeito won 24 seats. The snap election was the governing coalition’s worst result in 15 years, exit polls and results reported by national broadcaster NHK and other media showed. The yen hit a three-month low as results came out. Despite this, Ishiba said: “I want to fulfill my duty by protecting people’s lives, protecting Japan.” “People’s suspicion, mistrust and anger” at the slush fund scandal – which saw LDP figures pocket money from fundraising events and which helped sink his predecessor Fumio Kishida – factored in the election result, Ishiba said. “I will enact fundamental reform regarding the issue of money and politics,” Ishiba stressed, repeating that voters had delivered a “severe judgement” on the party. Japanese media had earlier speculated that if LDP lost the majority, Ishiba could quit, becoming the nation’s shortest-serving prime minister since the end of World War II. The LDP’s election committee chief, former Premier Junichiro Koizumi’s son Shinjiro Koizumi, resigned on Monday. What next? Ishiba is expected to seek to head a minority government, with the divided opposition seen as likely incapable of forming a coalition of their own, analysts said. But the prime minister on Monday said he was not considering a broader coalition “at this point”. As mandated by the constitution, the parties now have 30 days to figure out a grouping that can govern. The opposition, under former premier Yoshihiko Noda’s Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP), made significant gains, which raised its projected seat tally to 148 from 96 at the last election. “Voters chose which party would be the best fit to push for political reforms,” Noda said late on Sunday, adding that the “LDP-Komeito administration cannot continue”. Japan’s government and governing coalition officials are planning to convene a special parliament session to select the prime minister on November 11, Kyodo News reported on Monday, quoting multiple unnamed sources. “Lawmakers aligned with [former Prime Minister Shinzo] Abe were cold-shouldered under Ishiba, so they could potentially pounce on the opportunity to take their revenge,” Yu Uchiyama, political science professor at the University of Tokyo, told the AFP news agency. “But at the same time, with the number of LDP seats reduced so much, they might take the high road and support Ishiba for now, thinking it’s not the time for infighting,” he added. Adblock test (Why?)

Report from scene of major Israeli attack on north Gaza homes

Report from scene of major Israeli attack on north Gaza homes

NewsFeed Al Jazeera’s Moath al-Kahlout has been to the site of a major Israeli air attack on homes in north Gaza’s Beit Lahiya, where dozens of people were killed and left buried under rubble. Published On 28 Oct 202428 Oct 2024 Adblock test (Why?)

Early in-person voting begins in DC, Colorado

Early in-person voting begins in DC, Colorado

Early in-person voting kicked off in both Washington, D.C., and Colorado on Monday. Here is everything you need to know to cast a ballot. There are two competitive House districts across the states that began voting Friday: EMINEM CAMPAIGNS FOR KAMALA HARRIS. WILL IT SWAY DETROIT VOTERS? This is a guide to registration and early voting. For comprehensive and up-to-date information on voter eligibility, processes and deadlines, please go to Vote.gov and the election website for Colorado. Absentee voting kicked off in Colorado on Oct. 11. Residents do not need to provide an excuse to receive a ballot. The state proactively mailed ballots to eligible voters between Oct. 11 and Oct. 18. Those ballots must be delivered to state officials by Nov. 5. TRUMP ADVISER UNPACKS WHY FORMER PRESIDENT IS HOLDING RALLY IN DEEP-BLUE STATE WEEKS FROM ELECTION Colorado offers early in-person voting, but it varies by location. Be sure to check the state’s election website for early voting dates and locations.  Colorado residents can register to vote in person, by mail or online at any point during early voting and on Election Day. Oct. 28 is the last day to register to vote and receive a mail ballot. This is a guide to registration and early voting. For comprehensive and up-to-date information on voter eligibility, processes and deadlines, please go to Vote.gov and the election website for Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., began absentee voting on Monday. Registered voters do not need to apply for a ballot, as the district began sending ballots to all active registered voters starting Sept. 30. Ballots can be returned by mail or in person through Election Day. Washington, D.C., will begin early in-person voting on Oct. 28, and it will run through Nov. 3. The deadline for residents to register to vote online or by mail was Oct. 15. They can also register in-person during early voting (Oct. 28-Nov. 3) and on Election Day.