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full screen Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on the right with the leader of coalition partner Komeito, Keiichi Ishii. Image from the election campaign earlier in October. Photo: Kyodo News Via AP/TT
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in Japan appears to be losing support and at the same time losing its majority in the lower house of parliament, according to Japanese television channel NHK.
In the polling station survey from NHK, the LDP looks set to get between 153 and 219 seats, down from the previous 247.
Whether the party can maintain a majority with the help of its coalition partner Komeito remains uncertain. Komeito looks set to get between 21 and 35 seats. 233 required for majority.
LDP leader and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba took office on 1 October and called new elections. As a result of several corruption scandals, the party’s popularity among the public has fallen and before the election opinion figures have been low.
The Liberal Democrats have governed almost continuously in recent decades.