Tokyo | Japan is facing political instability after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s bid to call early elections failed, with the ruling coalition failing to win a majority in parliament for the first time since 2009.

Voter discontent over a slush fund scandal dented support for Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party, causing it and its ruling partner Komeito to fall short of the 233 seats needed for a majority in the lower house, according to a report by public broadcaster NHK. Polls by other media indicated similar results.

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