TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio cabinet survived a no-confidence motion that was put to a vote at a plenary meeting of the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Diet, the country’s parliament, on Thursday.

The major opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan submitted the motion, claiming that the Kishida cabinet has failed to take effective steps to address higher prices of goods and services in the country.

The no-confidence motion against the cabinet was rejected with a majority, mainly lawmakers of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, Komeito, voting against it.

The rejection came after the Lower House voted down a no-confidence motion against its speaker, Hiroyuki Hosoda, also introduced by the CDP, at the same plenary meeting.

The CDP accused Hosoda of repeatedly criticizing a planned Lower House electoral reform, saying that he is unqualified for the chamber’s top position. The party also criticized Hosoda’s failure to explain about sexual harassment allegations brought against him.

But the motion was rejected with a majority, with LDP and Komeito lawmakers casting downvotes.

It was the first no-confidence motion against a Japanese cabinet since June last year.  

JIJI Press