Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, leader of the center-right Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), said on July 21 he would not stand down after losing a key election on July 20.
The parliamentary election defeat came as Japan faces an Aug. 1 deadline to strike a tariff deal with the United States.
The LDP and its junior coalition partner, Komeito, were trying to hold onto a majority in the 248-seat upper house, the House of Councillors, but fell three seats short in the July 20 vote.
During a press conference on July 21, Ishiba said: “While I painfully feel my serious responsibility over the election results, I believe I must also fulfill my responsibility I bear for the country and the people so as not to cause politics to stall or go adrift. Challenges such as [the] global situation and natural disaster won’t wait for a better political situation.”…
Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba to Stay on After Election Defeat
