"I have decided to resign as party president," 68-year-old Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said in a press conference today.
The resignation comes less than a year after he became president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and assumed the office of prime minister. The LDP subsequently lost its majority in both houses of parliament.
Following the Japanese House of Councillors election in July, Prime Minister Ishiba's rivals called for his resignation, holding him accountable for the election results. Supporters of this move include former Prime Minister Taro Aso, who still holds influence within the party.
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Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru speaks in Tokyo on 5/9. Photo: AP |
Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru speaks in Tokyo on 5/9. Photo: AP
However, some other senior members urged caution, suggesting that the LDP's old-style politics is undermining the party's credibility.
Japan's NHK reported that Prime Minister Ishiba decided to step down to avoid causing division within the LDP, while the Asahi Shimbun newspaper said he could not withstand the mounting pressure to resign.
The Minister of Agriculture and a former prime minister reportedly met with Ishiba on the evening of 6/9 to persuade him to voluntarily leave office. Last week, 4 senior LDP officials submitted their resignations.
Recent polls show Ishiba's public support recovering, thanks to a tariff agreement with the US and the government's decision to reverse its current rice policy to increase production.
Prime Minister Ishiba's term was originally scheduled to end in 9/2027. Following his resignation, the LDP will have to choose a new leader to replace him, who will become Japan's next prime minister.
LDP lawmakers and local officials across Japan will submit nominations starting 8/9. In the September 2024 election, candidates needed nominations from at least 20 LDP lawmakers to be eligible to run for party president.
Ishiba's most prominent political rival is Sanae Takaichi, considered a hardline nationalist. On 3/9, she implicitly confirmed that she would run for the position. However, voters are reportedly not very fond of Takaichi, who came in second in the 2024 election.
Pham Giang (According to AFP)
