The Political Crisis in Japan in 2023–2024: Has an Escape Taken Place?

In summer of 2024, the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan faced three acute challenges requiring an immediate response. Firstly, it is a crisis of the traditional party management system based on inter-factional balance, which has sharpened amid the scandal around the abuse of political funds. Secondly, it is the weakening of the electoral positions of Komeito, LDP’s partner in the ruling coalition, which proceeds along with aging of its supporters from the Buddhist sect Soka Gakkai. Thirdly, it is the increasing competition from the opposition camp, developing with disillusionment with the LDP from the critically minded voters. Despite significant electoral successes in the general elections of October 2024, the opposition remains fragmented and unable to form a coalition government. The main problem for the Constitutional Democratic Party, which puts foreign policy and security issues in the center of its political program, according to the author, is its excessive fixation on criticizing the government and finding ways to coordinate with other parties “against the LDP”, its inability to nominate a new generation of leaders, as well as to put forward a positive agenda in the social and economic spheres alternative to the LDP.

Liberal Democratic Party, political funds scandal, dissolution of factions, Komeito, Japan Innovation Party, Constitutional Democratic Party, “floating votes”, constitutional issue, change of power