LDP defeat: long-term ruling party suffered a heavy blow

In this Japanese parliamentary election, the long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its ally Komeito lost the majority of seats in parliament for the first time in more than a decade. This defeat brought great challenges to the new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, and the LDP had to seek cooperation with other parties to continue to govern, and this result exposed the deep crisis of trust in Japanese politics. According to the latest results, the LDP and Komeito only won 215 seats, less than the 233 seats required to govern alone. The opposition parties and independent candidates won a total of 250 seats, of which the largest opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party, won 148 seats.

The LDP is trying to maintain power under the double blow of scandals and public opinion. This election was called "the people's verdict" by Shigeru Ishiba, but it eventually became a political bet for the LDP - the result was counterproductive. Although the LDP has maintained a stable leadership position for many years, voters have obviously lost patience with the party due to multiple factors, which not only challenges the operation of the new government, but also adds more uncertainty to Japan's political arena.

Political scandals and economic problems: the multiple crises of the LDP

For many years, the LDP has held power almost unhindered. Although the opposition briefly came to power in 1993 and 2009, both ended in failure. However, in recent years, the LDP has encountered many corruption scandals, and this year it was investigated for a series of political donations. Several members of the party were accused of benefiting from millions of dollars. This incident dealt a huge blow to the image of the LDP, and its support rate once fell below 20%. At the same time, the economic downturn, rising prices, inflationary pressures and stagnant wages have made it more difficult for many Japanese families to make ends meet after the "lost 30 years".

After former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida suddenly resigned in August this year, Shigeru Ishiba was elected as the new leader of the LDP and quickly called a general election, hoping to win back the hearts of the people with a new face and new policies. But Shigeru Ishiba's decision underestimated the anger of voters to a certain extent, and he failed to fully recognize the deep dissatisfaction of the Japanese public with corruption and economic recession. After the election, Shigeru Ishiba told NHK that "the voters have made a harsh judgment on us, and we must accept this result humbly."

Voters' "passive choice": disappointed with the LDP but difficult to trust the opposition

Although the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party performed well in this election and won many seats, many analysts believe that this is more due to voters' aversion to the LDP than trust in the opposition. Japanese people generally do not have high expectations for reform and change, and many voters lack confidence in the opposition, believing that they cannot show stability and execution in governing. 66-year-old voter Miyuki Fujisaki said that despite her dissatisfaction with the LDP, she would choose to continue to support the LDP because "past changes in power have not brought about substantial changes."

This suspicion of the opposition allows the LDP to still have a certain political influence even if it loses a majority of seats. However, this situation also highlights the rigidity of Japan's political system and its acceptance of the status quo. Although people are increasingly dissatisfied with the LDP, there is still a lack of a strong alternative.

High prices and economic difficulties: the pain of voters

In addition to political corruption, Japan's high prices and economic stagnation are important reasons for voter dissatisfaction. The continuous rise in the prices of food, electricity and daily necessities has increased the burden on ordinary families. Michiko Hamada, a Tokyo resident, said that her monthly food expenses have increased by 10,000 to 20,000 yen (about 65 to 130 US dollars), and her living standards have become increasingly tight under the pressure of rising prices. And Chie Shimizu, a retiree, said that although part-time work helps her balance her income and expenditure, her quality of life is still not as good as before, and the rise in prices far exceeds the increase in wages. For many years, Japan's economic growth has been sluggish, and people's real income has not improved. This dissatisfaction is finally reflected in the ballot.

Political trust crisis: a divided opposition and a weak ruling party

The results of this election reveal the dilemma of Japan's political status quo-a ruling party plagued by scandals and an opposition that has failed to win enough trust. Jeffrey Hall, a lecturer at Kanda University of Foreign Studies in Japan, pointed out that although voters want to hold politicians accountable through voting, they have not yet found a party that can be fully trusted. This also means that the LDP still maintains influence in the political arena despite losing the majority of seats in this election, because the opposition has not yet proved its ability to govern.

The support of the opposition party comes largely from voters' dissatisfaction with the LDP rather than their active recognition of the opposition. This result makes the Constitutional Democratic Party's victory seem weak, and many analysts point out that Japanese politics currently lacks a leadership force that can lead the people and develop steadily. Voters' choices are often "passive" rather than "active" because they prefer to avoid risks rather than actively seek change.

The impact of political turmoil on Japan and abroad

This turbulent situation in Japanese politics has not only caused widespread concern at home, but also made neighboring countries and the international community uneasy. As the world's fourth largest economy and a key country in the Asia-Pacific region, Japan's political turmoil may have a wide-ranging impact on the regional economy and security. The future government must balance the interests of multiple parties in a weakened power structure and deal with domestic economic difficulties and diplomatic challenges, especially in the context of growing tensions between China and the United States.

Shigeru Ishiba's LDP will face a more complex political environment in the future. In response to the economic downturn, the government needs to take more cohesive measures in terms of policy to promote the coordinated development of wages and prices in order to regain public trust. However, due to the weakening of its party status, the LDP will have to make more compromises, and how to stabilize Japan's economy and the trust of the people will become its top priority. If the future ruling team fails to effectively respond to these challenges, it will further exacerbate the public's disappointment with Japanese politics.

Rebuilding trust and stability: a difficult task ahead

The results of this election reveal the urgency of political reform in Japan and highlight the public's deep dissatisfaction with the political system. For the long-term ruling LDP, this election is a wake-up call, indicating that if its reform direction cannot truly solve the actual problems of the people, it will face more challenges in the future. How to restore public trust in turmoil and how to establish a more dynamic and representative political environment will be the key to Japan's future political development.