JAPAN PM ISHIBA VOWS TO STAY ON AFTER ELECTION DEFEAT – Ishiba cites U.S. tariff talks in decision to remain
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said he needed to continue in office to deal with trade tariff negotiations with the United States and other economic issues following a bruising defeat in upper house elections.
The embattled prime minister told a news conference he would remain in office to ‘achieve an agreement that is beneficial to both Japan and the U.S’ and other pressing matters, such as rising consumer prices that are straining the world’s fourth-largest economy.
The 68-year-old leader said he had no plans to expand his coalition but would work with opposition parties to address voter concerns about inflation. He cautioned, though, that tax changes would not deliver the immediate help households need.
Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has ruled Japan for most of its post-war history, and coalition partner Komeito returned 47 seats, short of the 50 seats it needed to ensure a majority in the 248-seat upper chamber in an election where half the seats were up for grabs.
