TOKYO—Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba kept his job in a parliamentary vote on Monday, despite having led the ruling coalition to its worst general election result in 15 years.
Lawmakers appointed former defence minister Ishiba head of a minority government—meaning he may face political gridlock, or need to compromise to pass new bills.
Ishiba took office six weeks ago and held a snap election on October 27, hoping to shore up his mandate as leader of the conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
But voters, unhappy with inflation and a slush fund scandal that helped sink his predecessor Fumio Kishida, delivered a ballot-box blow to the LDP and its junior coalition partner.
MPs in parliament’s powerful lower house convened on Monday for a special four-day session to nominate the prime minister, a necessary step after a general election.
Japan’s opposition parties are divided on key issues, stopping them mounting a credible challenge to Ishiba.
In a run-off—the first since 1994 —Ishiba won 221 votes against 160 for Yoshihiko Noda, head of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP). Eighty-four votes were discounted because they named other politicians.
“This chamber names Shigeru Ishiba… as the prime minister,” announced lower house speaker Fukushiro Nukaga, as Ishiba bowed to his fellow lawmakers who applauded.
Despite losing its majority in the October election, the LDP coalition remains the largest bloc in the 465-seat lower house.
The prime minister will announce a new cabinet later on Monday, who will be ceremonially approved by the emperor.
Ishiba, 67, is reportedly trying to arrange a meeting with US president-elect Donald Trump later this month, around the time he travels to Peru for an economic summit.
Analysts have voiced worries that possible fresh US tariffs on Chinese and Japanese goods under Trump may fuel inflation.
