Sejong Focus

(August 2022 No. 40) Analysis of the results of the 26th Japanese House of Councillors election: its meaning and implications

Date 2022-08-01 View 1,872

File Analysis of the results of the 26th Japanese House of Councillors election its meaning and implications

Analysis of the results of the 26th Japanese House of Councillors election: its meaning and implications

 

Lee Myon Woo

(mwlee@sejong.org)  

Vice President of Outreach,

the Sejong Institute

 

 Abstract

The results of the 26th Japanese House of Councillors election show that the Liberal Democratic Party, which secured eight more seats than the existing number of seats, won the election. More than that, the main opposition Democratic Party's crushing defeat, the advancement of Japan's new opposition party, and the winning of seats for mini parties such as the Reiwa Party and NHK Party show that the question of existing party politics was expressed. I am going to say that the fact that Abe's death did not have a significant impact on the election results is also expected to show this aspect.

The results of this election, including the LDP's victory, are largely set in three circumstances. First, support for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its leader, Prime Minister Kishida, and his cabinet cabinet was stable, and second, support for Prime Minister Kishida and the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) was based on positive assessment of the COVID-19 crisis, and third, strategic failure of traditional opposition parties, especially the Constitutional Democratic Party.
Above all, the performance of the so-called "four constitutional amendment parties," which are favorable of constitutional amendments, attracted attention during this election. The LDP won 63 seats, New Komeito 13 seats, the Japan Restoration Society 12 seats, and the National Democratic Party won five seats, and the total number of non-elected seats that did not participate in this election will be 177 seats. This is more than 166 seats, two-thirds of the seats needed to revise the Constitution in the upper house, but the four parties are in different positions and lack of leadership due to Abe's death.

South Korea expects Prime Minister Kishida to play a more positive role in improving Korea-Japan relations by leading the Liberal Democratic Party to win the election, but the current question Japan has about Korea is not easy, as shown by the failure of the NATO summit in Spain. This can be said to be further deepened by the deepening of the U.S.-China conflict and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but it is also a very political issue, so it is necessary to have an officer or organization dedicated to continuous leadership under a long-term plan.​

 

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(August 2022 No. 41) Results and Challenges of 30 Years of Normalization of Korea-China Relations 2022.08.01
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