Unstable political landscape seen in Japan amid election

Japan's political landscape is expected to become increasingly unstable following the ruling coalition's defeat in Sunday's House of Councillors election, experts said.

The Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner Komeito failed to secure the 50 seats needed to maintain a majority in the upper house. This leaves Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba without control in either chamber of the National Diet and places his administration in a precarious position, the first time of losing such a majority since the LDP was established in 1955.

According to the final tally released on Monday morning, the LDP secured only 39 of the contested seats, while Komeito won eight. Even when combined with their uncontested seats, the two parties were unable to meet the 125-seat threshold required for a majority in the 248-member upper house.