Japan election: voters have issued ‘severe judgment’, PM says after ruling coalition loses majority

Japan's prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, says voters have issued a ‘severe judgement’ against his LDP party after losing dozens of seats in parliamentary elections. The opposition Constitutional Democratic party [CDP] was up 50 seats. Photograph: Takashi Aoyama/Reuters

Japan’s political future was shrouded in uncertainty on Monday after voters punished the ruling coalition over rising prices and a funding scandal, paving the way for days of wrangling as party leaders try to form a government.

The Liberal Democratic party (LDP) and its longtime junior coalition partner Komeito failed to secure a majority in the lower house on a bruising night in which the main opposition Constitutional Democratic party (CDP) made significant gains.