Japan’s political scene just got a major shake-up! 🇯🇵 Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has announced he’s stepping down, kicking off a contest to find the next leader of the world’s fourth-largest economy. But the process isn’t as straightforward as it used to be—here’s a quick, friendly guide to what comes next. 🗳️
LDP Leadership Race: Securing the Crown
First stop: The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) needs a new president. To enter the race, candidates must snag at least 20 nominations from LDP lawmakers—think of it like earning your spot in the playoffs. Once the field is set, hopefuls hit the road for debates and campaign events across Japan, rallying support from party members and lawmakers alike.
On voting day, each lawmaker casts one vote, and rank-and-file members share an equal chunk of votes. If no one hits a majority, the top two face off in a run-off. In that round, lawmakers keep one vote each, but rank-and-file votes shrink to 47 total—one per prefecture. And if it’s still neck and neck? A tie would be decided by drawing lots—an edge-of-your-seat finish that’s never happened in an LDP leadership fight! 🎲
From Party Boss to Prime Minister
But winning the LDP presidency doesn’t guarantee the premiership this time. With LDP’s slim presence in both houses of the Diet, the new party leader must also secure a simple majority in parliament:
- Lower House vote: All members cast ballots. A run-off follows if needed.
- Upper House vote: The same process applies, but only Lower House members are eligible to become prime minister.
If the two houses disagree, the Lower House decision prevails—like a tiebreaker in overtime. Once a candidate clears both hurdles, they’re officially Japan’s next prime minister. And if they want extra backing, they might call a snap general election to get that national mandate. ⚡
Keep an eye on this space for more updates! 👀
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
