"Japan's Parliament Faces Uncertainty as Ruling Coalition Seeks Opposition Support"

The next session of Japan's parliament, beginning on Friday, is anticipated to be the most uncertain in years. With the ruling coalition lacking a majority from the latest Lower House election, it will have to seek support from opposition parties for all proposed legislation, starting with the budget for fiscal 2025.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, leading the minority government along with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, faces a shift from the previous era of pushing bills through in a straightforward manner, backed by a strong majority. Instead, a more collaborative and compromise-driven strategy is required to navigate the current political environment. In a recent debate, Ishiba acknowledged that the trend toward low-profile, sensible compromise that began last year will be the new norm in parliament.