Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party Is Faltering

The political dominance of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party has been remarkable.

Despite incessant internal jockeying that has often led to a revolving door of leaders (a problem that remains), the party has governed Japan almost continuously since 1955, staunchly adhering to an alliance with the United States that has ensured peace, security, some of the highest living standards in world history and perhaps our most precious commodity: stability.

But elections on Sunday — in which Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba lost the majority in the lower house of Parliament previously held by the L.D.P. and its coalition partner Komeito — make clear that Japan’s prized political stability is no more. The Liberal Democrats, the country’s indispensable political force for so long, is losing its way. It is in disarray and weakened by scandals that have contributed to growing public disgust with the status quo.

All of this is happening as Japan faces some of its biggest challenges in decades. The economy, which has alternated between anemic growth and recession for many years, slipped back into recession late last year and barely grew in the most recent quarter. The yen hit a nearly four-decade low this summer. It remains unclear how Japan can continue to pay for the spiraling long-term social welfare needs of its rapidly aging population while following through on plans to raise military spending to meet the growing threat posed by China and nuclear-armed dictatorships like North Korea and Russia.

These are generational challenges that will require tough choices — and strong and steady leadership. But the L.D.P.’s grip and its ability to inspire the Japanese public have been weakening since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stepped down in 2020 because of declining health. Mr. Abe, who was assassinated two years ago, spent nearly nine years in power, the most of any leader since the establishment of Japan’s first cabinet in 1885. While not everyone agreed with his policies, he brought a sense of purpose and a desire to make Japan a strong country that its people could be proud of.

But the party’s image has declined in part because of a series of self-inflicted wounds. They include revelations that many prominent L.D.P. figures had ties to the Unification Church, a fringe religious organization founded in South Korea, and accusations that a number of L.D.P. politicians were involved in a fund-raising scandal. Polls have shown sharply declining public satisfaction not only with the Liberal Democrats but also with Japanese democracy itself.

In the four years since Mr. Abe’s departure, the party leadership’s revolving door has begun swinging again. Japan has had three prime ministers, the latest being Mr. Ishiba. A former defense and agriculture minister, he was installed as prime minister on Oct. 1 only because his predecessor Fumio Kishida stepped down after his tepid response to the fund-raising scandal caused his approval ratings to tank.