Japan's ruling party braces for blow in elections to lower house

Election staff members help voters at a polling station for Japan's lower house election in Tokyo, Oct. 27, 2024. Shigeru Ishiba, prime minister and president of the Liberal Democratic Party attends the debate with other political parties' leaders at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo, Oct. 12, 2024

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's conservative ruling party braced for a blow to its comfortable majority in the lower house of parliament in Sunday's elections amid public rage over the party's financial scandals and discontent over a stagnant economy. The results could weaken Ishiba's grip on power, possibly leading Japan into political uncertainty, though a change of government was not expected.