Japan’s ruling party loses all 3 seats in special vote, seen as punishment for corruption scandal

By MARI YAMAGUCHI
Associated Press

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s governing party has lost all three seats being contested in parliamentary by-elections Sunday. The result is being considered punishment by voters for a longstanding Liberal Democratic Party corruption scandal that has undermined Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s leadership. Final vote counts showed the liberal-leaning main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan won the three seats in Shimane, Nagasaki and Tokyo. The governing party is unlikely to lose power because the opposition is fractured. However, the loss could reduce Kishida’s clout and make the LDP consider changing leaders ahead of the next general election. The next election for party leader is in September. The current term for the lower house expires in October 2025.