3年に一度、定数の半数を改選する参議院選挙が7月20日に行われました。
248 members of the Upper House are elected for 6-year terms. Elections are held every three years, with half of the seats up for grabs.
参議院：➾the House of Councilors／the Upper House
衆議院：the House of Representatives／the Lower House
※up for grabs 〔競争など〕誰もが勝利に手が届き得る, 誰が勝つか分からない
522人が、125議席（欠員１）を求めて、選挙区と比例代表で立候補しました。
This time, there are 124 seats plus one extra to fill a vacancy.
※補欠選挙 by-election/election to fill a vacancy
A total of 522 candidates are running in the election, either competing in electoral districts or under the proportional representation system.
期日前投票者数は過去最多で、投票率もUPしました。
The number of people who cast their ballots under the early voting system was 26,181,865, a record high for any national poll in Japan. The voter turnout was 58.51, up 6.46 percentage points from the previous Upper House poll in 2022,
参議院選挙は、現政権に対する試金石とみなされます。
The Upper House elections are often regarded as a political litmus test of the incumbent administration.
※litmus test=リトマス試験、〈比喩〉試金石、真価を問うもの➾事実上のreferendum（国民投票）だも
※incumbent 現職の ※administration 政権
様々な争点がある中、景気対策では、連立与党は給付金、野党は減税を訴えています。
Ruling coalition offers cash handouts; opposition favors slashing levies（見出し）
A clear dividing line has been drawn between the ruling coalition, which is advocating one-time cash handouts, and the opposition parties, which are calling for cuts to the consumption tax.
※handouts 施し、政府の補助金
※advocate 主張する、支持する
結果、連立与党は過半数に届かず、衆参両党で少数与党となりました。
The ruling coalition has lost its majority. This loss is another drubbing to the coalition, making it a minority in both houses following its defeat in the lower house election in October, and further weakening its grip on power.
※drubbing ①〔痛烈な〕一撃②決定的敗北、完敗
※grip on power政権掌握、権力支配 -
『日本人ファースト』を公約に無党派層を引きつけて勢力を伸ばした参政党。排外主義を心配する声もありました。
The opposition Sanseito, which espouses “Japanese First” policies and has expressed anti-immigrant rhetoric, made a strong showing and captured 14 seats, galvanizing support among unaffiliated voters.
※espouse 主義を支持する rhetoric弁論、言語表現 ※galvanize 刺激する、駆り立てる
※unaffiliated voters 〔どの政党も支持していない〕無党派層の投票者、有権者
An increasing number of political parties have been promoting exclusionary policies ahead of the upper house election, raising concerns that candidates may exploit the election to incite hate speech.
※exclusionary 除外する、排他的な
➾排外主義：chauvinism(狂信的排外主義) xenophobia（外国人嫌い、恐怖症）
※incite駆り立てる
党内外から、レイムダックになった石破おろしの必要性が聞かれる中、首相は続投を表明しています。
Ishiba clings to leadership after back-to-back election setback（タイトル）
※cling to しがみつく ➾hold on to
※back-to-back 連続の
Though he has no intention of relinquishing power, moves to oust Ishiba are emerging.
※relinquish 放棄する、断念する ※oust（地位から）追い出す
With the “Down with Ishiba” movement showing no signs of easing, he is under pressure to step down.
※down with～ ～を打倒せよ、やっつけろ
Having become a lame duck, any delay in announcing his resignation will only prolong the political chaos.（社説より）
※lame duck 死に体 選挙で敗れて政権を離れることになる議員、知事、大統領、政党、政権など
