Japan Minority Government Faces Upper House Election Test

Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba faces a challenging upper house election on July 20, with his minority Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and coalition partner Komeito aiming to secure at least 50 of the 124 contested seats to maintain a simple majority. Despite setbacks from prior corruption scandals and opposition gains, Ishiba remains focused on achieving this goal to avoid potential leadership changes or coalition restructuring. Should the ruling coalition fail to secure a majority, they may need to negotiate with opposition parties or expand their coalition, a process viewed with skepticism by political leaders. Meanwhile, in Nepal, coalition tensions rise as leaders from the ruling Nepali Congress express dissatisfaction over the government's failure to fulfill promises made in a seven-point agreement with the CPN-UML, raising concerns about governance and political stability. In Nigeria, opposition forces are divided over forming a new political party, the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), or joining existing parties, with the ADA initiative signaling growing dissatisfaction within the opposition and posing challenges for the 2027 coalition talks. These developments highlight political uncertainties and coalition dynamics in multiple countries as governments navigate internal and external pressures.