Tokyo: Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced on Monday his intention to seek bipartisan support following the ruling coalition's loss of its majority in the upper house election. In a news conference covered by public broadcaster NHK, Ishiba emphasized his commitment to fulfilling his responsibilities as the leader of the ruling party and avoiding political stagnation.

According to Anadolu Agency, Ishiba expressed his intent to engage in sincere discussions with other political parties and maintain a focus on national politics with devotion to Japan's future and its people. This statement follows the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) loss of its majority in one of Japan's most turbulent elections in recent history. The ruling coalition of the LDP and Komeito secured around 47 of the 125 contested seats, falling short of the 50 needed to maintain a majority.

Despite this setback, the LDP remains the single largest party in the upper house, winning 39 seats, while the main opposition, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, became the second-largest party by acquiring 22 seats. The combined LDP-Komeito ruling camp now holds 122 seats, a reduction from 141 before the election, in the 248-seat upper house. A minimum of 125 seats is necessary for a simple majority in the House of Councilors.

Prime Minister Ishiba also stated that he has no plans to expand the coalition framework but aims to collaborate with other parties to address urgent issues, including U.S. tariff measures, rising prices, and potential natural disasters. He made it clear that he does not intend to set a deadline for his tenure and hopes to achieve a bipartisan consensus on measures against rising prices while maintaining fiscal responsibility.