Japan ruling coalition is expected to lose its majority in the upper house, according to Asahi

Japan’s ruling coalition is expected to lose its majority in the July 20 upper house election, the Asahi newspaper said Tuesday, increasing the likelihood of political instability at a time when the nation is having difficulty negotiating a trade agreement with the United States.

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), led by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, and its coalition partner Komeito are expected to have difficulty holding onto the 50 seats required to maintain their majority in the upper house of parliament, according to the Asahi.

According to the report, the LDP is not expected to gain more than 35 seats. As of right now, the LDP has 52 seats.

Asahi stated that their report was based on research performed countrywide by the newspaper’s journalists as well as phone and online polls carried out among voters on July 13–14.

With the rising cost of living, notably the skyrocketing price of Japan’s staple rice, hitting households, Ishiba’s administration has experienced a decline in approval ratings.