Stability Over? Ishiba’s Short Tenure Shatters Image of LDP Dominance

The short and calamitous tenure of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has shattered the carefully cultivated image of stability and dominance that the Liberal Democratic Party has enjoyed. His resignation signals that the era of predictable, LDP-controlled politics may be over.
For much of the past decade, the LDP has governed with large, stable majorities, allowing it to push through its agenda with relative ease. This created a sense of political inevitability and stability that was a key part of its appeal.
Ishiba’s premiership has demolished this perception. The loss of control in both houses of parliament has shown that the LDP is electorally vulnerable. The subsequent internal chaos that led to his ousting has revealed a party that is far from the unified, disciplined machine it once appeared to be.
The LDP now finds itself in a new and uncomfortable position: it is just another political party that has to fight to govern, rather than the natural, undisputed ruler of Japan. This marks a significant and potentially lasting shift in the country’s political landscape.