Japan's ruling coalition, led by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, is expected to lose its majority in the recent snap elections, which would be a significant setback for the newly appointed leader.

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has been the dominant political party in Japan for almost seventy years, is projected to fall short of the 233 seats needed for a majority in the lower house, according to projections from national broadcaster NHK and other media outlets.

The election, which was called shortly after Ishiba assumed office on October 1, was intended to strengthen his position and that of the LDP, which has been affected by a slush fund scandal that previously impacted former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Voter dissatisfaction has been fueled by rising prices and ongoing economic challenges, resulting in the LDP's worst electoral performance since 2009.