Japan: Official campaigning for the House of Councillors election in Japan began on Thursday, set for July 20. This election is a significant challenge for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and his minority government as citizens face increasing living costs. Ishiba aims for the ruling coalition, comprising his Liberal Democratic Party and the Komeito party, to maintain its majority in the 248-member upper house, which requires winning at least 50 of the 125 available seats in the upcoming election. While this target is considered relatively achievable for the ruling coalition, which previously held a majority in the upper chamber, Ishiba has acknowledged that it won’t be an effortless task due to his low public approval ratings. The main opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, is seeking to weaken the ruling coalition by preventing it from retaining majority control in the upper house, especially after the LDP-Komeito coalition lost its majority in the more powerful House of Representatives.
- Lord, we pray for wisdom and guidance for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and his government as they navigate the challenges of increased living costs and public discontent. Ask for discernment in their decisions to promote stability and welfare for the citizens (The Holy Bible, Proverbs 2:6).
- Lord, we pray for unity and peace within Japan as the political landscape shifts. Request that the citizens engage in constructive dialogue and that the elections lead to positive outcomes for the nation, regardless of the political affiliation of the winners (The Holy Bible, Philippians 2:2).
News Source: Japan Today
Image Source: Canva
