Mumbai: Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru announced his resignation on Sunday as president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), less than a year after taking office. The move comes just weeks after the LDP and its coalition partner Komeito suffered a historic setback in the July Upper House election.
In a post on X, Ishiba declared, “Today, I have decided to resign from the position of President of the Liberal Democratic Party.” Addressing a press conference earlier, he confirmed that he will not run in the upcoming LDP special leadership contest.
According to NHK World, Ishiba’s resignation is seen as an attempt to contain internal turmoil within the ruling party, which has been rattled by political fundraising scandals and growing factional disputes. He cited the conclusion of a deal on US tariff measures as one reason for stepping down.
Ishiba said he had instructed LDP Secretary-General Moriyama Hiroshi to initiate the procedures for holding a leadership election, expressing hope that the party would quickly move forward in selecting a new president.
Since taking office last October, Ishiba pledged to tackle inflation and reform the party. However, his tenure was marred by a string of electoral defeats. The ruling coalition lost its majority in the Lower House soon after he assumed office, and in July it also fell short of securing control in the Upper House.
Amid intensifying pressure from right-wing factions within the LDP, senior party leaders had urged Ishiba to take responsibility for the losses. Sources said he met former Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide and Agriculture Minister Koizumi Shinjiro on Saturday, where both reportedly advised him to step aside for the sake of party unity.
The LDP was expected to decide on Monday whether to hold a special leadership election, but Ishiba’s resignation has now set that process in motion. The party is expected to begin consultations on choosing his successor in the coming days.
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