TOKYO – Polls opened Sunday in Japan’s general election, marking a critical test for new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba as he seeks voter support for his scandal-hit party, just weeks after assuming office. Ishiba, the former defense minister, called a snap election immediately after winning the leadership contest of his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), a conservative political powerhouse that has ruled Japan almost continuously since its founding in 1955.

By calling an election, Ishiba, 67, is seeking a public mandate for the ruling LDP amid falling approval ratings and public anger over one of the country’s biggest political scandals in decades. The funding scandal involved millions of dollars in undocumented political funds, with lawmakers allegedly pocketing kickbacks or failing to properly declare their income. Former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida tried to contain the damage by replacing several cabinet ministers and dissolving factions within the LDP. However, he faced increasing calls to resign and announced in August that he would not run for a second term.

Ishiba’s administration also faces public discontent over rising living costs, exacerbated by a weak yen, a sluggish economy, and high inflation. The political veteran has pledged financial assistance for low-income households, a higher minimum wage, and regional revitalization, according to Reuters. He has further committed to a “full exit” from Japan’s high inflation rates, vowing to achieve “growth in real wages.”

Strengthening Japan’s relations with the United States has been another priority for Ishiba, who seeks deeper ties with allies amid growing security challenges in Asia, including an increasingly assertive China and a belligerent North Korea. Japan’s partnership with the U.S. has long been central to American strategy in the Asia-Pacific region, and this year Ishiba’s predecessor, Kishida, expanded Japan’s defense cooperation with its key ally. Ishiba, however, has advocated for a more balanced relationship, including greater oversight of U.S. military bases in Japan, Reuters reports.

As defense minister, Ishiba was known for his strong stance on deterrence as a security issue. He even proposed an Asian version of the NATO security bloc, an idea he has apparently dropped after it was rebuffed by the U.S. In a political culture that prizes conformity, Ishiba has long been something of an outlier, willing to criticize and go against his own party. This willingness to speak out has earned him powerful enemies within the LDP, yet it has endeared him to grassroots members and the public. (CNN)