The Conservative Liberal Democratic Party, led by Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru, failed to secure 233 seats, which would grant them a majority in the 465-seat Diet. The Liberal Democrats had been governing in coalition with the similarly conservative Komeito party.
NHK reported that the ruling coalition has obtained 181 seats. The government's defeat was foreshadowed by statements from Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru, who remarked that "our party has not been able to gain the public's understanding on issues of politics and the economy, and this has been the biggest blow to the Liberal Democratic Party."
The opposition Constitutional Democratic Party will strengthen its position compared to the previous elections.
The lack of a majority does not mean a change in government, but the results will complicate the Prime Minister's efforts to push his party's policies through parliament, and he may need to seek a third coalition partner.