Japan is set to hold its House of Councillors election on July 20, with the campaign officially kicking off this Thursday (July 3). This will be the first nationwide election since Prime Minister Shozo Iwao took office, with public concerns over inflation and life pressures making the election particularly noteworthy.
The House of Councillors has a total of 248 seats, with 125 seats up for election this time. The ruling coalition led by Iwao’s Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito Party needs to secure at least 50 seats to maintain its advantage. Despite the relatively low threshold, Iwao has acknowledged that the election will be challenging, especially with ongoing low approval ratings.
Major opposition parties such as the Constitutional Democratic Party hope to weaken the ruling coalition’s influence through this election. The ruling coalition lost its majority in the House of Representatives election last October, and this election will further shape Iwao’s political fate.
During a recent speech on the streets of Kobe, Iwao stated that the government will ensure wage increases surpass inflation and promised to distribute a 20,000 yen (approximately $140) cash subsidy per person by the end of the year to alleviate price pressures.
Facing inflation, both ruling and opposition parties have put forward relief policies. The ruling coalition emphasizes cash subsidies, while opposition parties advocate for tax cuts or tax suspensions, highlighting clear policy differences.
Rising prices of daily necessities and stagnant real wages have become core public grievances, making economic issues the main focus of this election. Iwao emphasized that Japan will not sacrifice agricultural interests as a concession in trade negotiations with the United States.
It is estimated that more than 520 candidates will compete for the 125 seats in this election, with 74 seats being elected from local districts and 51 seats under proportional representation. The House of Councillors elects half of its members every three years, each serving a six-year term.
This election is seen as the first significant evaluation of the Iwao government’s policies by the public, and the results will profoundly impact the future direction of Japanese politics.
(This article referenced relevant reports from Kyodo News)