Suga Accepts Election Losses 'humbly'
Japan's Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide says he humbly accepts his ruling Liberal Democratic Party's failure to win Sunday's elections for three vacant Diet seats.
The Upper House re-held election in Hiroshima Prefecture, the Upper House by-election in Nagano Prefecture, and the Lower House by-election in Hokkaido No. 2 district were the first national contests since Suga took office last September. Candidates backed by opposition parties won all three elections. The LDP did not field or back any candidate in the by-election in Hokkaido.
Suga told reporters on Monday that he humbly accepts the people's verdict. He said he will analyze the results and firmly correct what needs to be corrected.
He also said that as the LDP president, he takes seriously the various criticisms raised over money and politics in the Upper House election in Hiroshima.
The Hiroshima poll was held after a former LDP lawmaker lost her seat over her conviction for vote-buying in the 2019 election.
Suga reiterated his cautious stance about an early dissolution of the Lower House when he was asked if the results would affect the timing of a snap election that must be held by the fall.
He said there has been no change in his position of putting top priority on efforts to contain the coronavirus.
He said the government will do its best to complete two-dose vaccinations by the end of July for all elderly people who want to be inoculated.