Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is seen at a press conference at the Prime Minister’s office on Tuesday.
15:40 JST, April 30, 2024
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he took seriously the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s defeat in Sunday’s three House of Representatives by-elections. They include two losses in constituencies where the party fielded no candidates.
At the same time, he denied any intention to dissolve the lower house for early elections.
Speaking to reporters at the prime minister’s office on Tuesday, Kishida said of the defeat: “I really take it seriously.”
Kishida, who is also chairman of the LDP, said the party’s political money scandal largely contributed to its defeat in Shimane Constituency No. 1. The constituency was the only frontal battle between the ruling party candidates and the opposition party candidates during the three by-elections. He apologized for the defeat in the constituency and said: “I am sorry for the candidate and his supporters.”
Regarding the responsibility of the Prime Minister and the party leadership for the by-election results, Kishida said only: “I will work to regain public trust by achieving tangible results on issues such as party reforms, political reforms and measures to address the problems to deal with. wages and prices, one by one.”
Kishida added: “I have to focus on dealing with problems and achieving results. I have no intention [of dissolving the lower house for a snap election].”
