2024 House of Representatives Election

The 2024 House of Representatives election has sent new ripples through Japanese politics. In addition to the shocking development of the LDP-Komeito coalition government losing its majority, the issue of "politics and money" has come to light once again, and voters are increasingly distrustful of politics. Here, we will summarize the increase and decrease in the number of seats for each party, the advancement of the Democratic Party for the People, and the future management of the Diet.

Changes in the number of seats held by each political party and the LDP-Komeito government's failure to secure a majority

This election had a significant consequence, with the LDP-Komeito coalition losing its majority. The LDP was hit hard by a loss of support in urban areas and a comeback by the opposition parties. While it managed to maintain a certain level of support in rural areas, renewed attention on issues surrounding politics and money resulted in it losing the trust of voters. The Komeito Party also saw its support base in urban areas weaken and it was only able to retain its seats.

Meanwhile, opposition parties increased their seats, and the Democratic Party for the People in particular significantly increased its influence. The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan increased its number of seats by collecting critical votes against the government, and the Communist Party also secured a certain number of seats. As a result, the power of the ruling and opposition parties is at an equal level, and it is expected that it will be difficult for the coalition government to run the Diet stably.

The Democratic Party for the People's advance and expansion of new support base

What attracted attention in this election was the rapid growth of the Democratic Party for the People. The party ran its election campaign on concrete policy proposals, targeting young people and the urban middle class. Its clear vision on themes such as social security, education, and economic revitalization won the support of many voters. The party also strengthened its internal governance and developed a new base of support by conveying its message to a wide range of people through digital media such as social media.

The Democratic Party for the People is expected to gain more momentum than ever before and play a leading role in the Diet going forward, but a clear policy will be required, particularly on how to ensure transparency in "politics and money."

The future of the Diet and the issue of "politics and money"

The results of the House of Representatives election are expected to make the future operation of the Diet difficult. With the ruling party losing its majority, not only will it be difficult to implement policies stably, but it will likely be required to hold more frequent consultations with the opposition parties. Furthermore, the issue of "politics and money," which was a focus of attention in this election, has become an urgent task for each party.

In particular, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and other parties in power are facing severe scrutiny over issues related to political donations and financial management, and it is imperative that they take steps to restore trust.

Furthermore, the rise of the Democratic Party for the People may prompt a restructuring of the opposition coalition, which will also affect the power balance within the Diet.

In the coming Diet sessions, it will likely become more difficult for the ruling party to pass bills on its own, and bipartisan policy discussions will likely become even more necessary. In particular, cooperation between the ruling and opposition parties will be more crucial than ever before when it comes to long-term policy issues such as social security and regional revitalization.

The 2024 House of Representatives election marks a new turning point in Japanese politics. The loss of the LDP-Komeito government's majority, the problem of "politics and money," and the advance of the Democratic Party for the People will no doubt have a major impact on the future running of the Diet. Voters are closely watching to see how the policies put forward by each party will be implemented.