The result is a blow to Prime Minister Ishiba as his Liberal Democratic Party experiences its worst result in 15 years.

Japan’s ruling coalition lost its parliamentary majority following a significant defeat in Sunday’s national election, increasing uncertainty over the makeup of the next government and the prospects for the world’s fourth-largest economy.

With all but 20 of the 465 seats, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which ruled Japan for most of its postwar history, and its coalition partner, Komeito, won 209 seats in the lower house of Parliament. , reported Japanese public broadcaster NHK.

That’s down from the 279 seats they previously held, marking the coalition’s worst election result since its brief loss of power in 2009.

“This election was very difficult for us,” a somber-looking Ishiba told TV Tokyo.

Keiichi Ishii, who became the new leader of Komeito – the LDP’s long-time coalition partner – lost in his constituency last month.

The night’s biggest winner, the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ), has won 143 seats so far, up from 98, as voters punished Ishiba’s party over a scandal financing and inflation.

The outcome could force parties to enter into power-sharing deals to govern, which could lead to political instability as the country faces economic challenges and a tense security situation in East Asia.

“This is not the end, but the beginning,” CDPJ leader Yoshihiko Noda said at a news conference, adding that his party would work with other opposition parties to achieve change. of government.

Prime Minister Ishiba said he would wait for final results, expected in the early hours of Monday, before considering possible coalitions or other power-sharing deals.

Last month, Ishiba beat eight other candidates to become leader of the conservative LDP party, which has governed Japan almost continuously for seven decades, despite frequent leader changes.

He took office days later, replacing Fumio Kishida, facing discontent over rising prices, a slush fund scandal and the LDP’s ties to a Christian movement following the 2022 assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Ishiba called a snap election immediately after being elected, hoping to win a public mandate for his position as prime minister.

At a rally on Saturday, Ishiba promised that the LDP would “start from scratch as a fair, just and sincere party.”

This was not enough to convince voters.

The PLD has held an absolute majority since returning to power in 2012 after a brief period of opposition. He also briefly lost power in 1993, when a coalition of seven opposition parties formed a government that lasted less than a year.

Smaller parties, such as the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) or the Japan Innovation Party, could now prove key to forming a government.

The DPP has 27 seats so far and the Japan Innovation Party has 35 seats, according to NHK. But both propose policies that contradict the PLD line.