Japan PM Shigeru Ishiba Resigns Amidst Political Turmoil, LDP Leadership Race Imminent

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has announced his immediate resignation, plunging the nation’s political landscape into uncertainty. The decision, revealed Sunday, comes less than a year after Ishiba took office and follows two significant electoral setbacks for his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

Ishiba stated his intent to step down to take responsibility for the LDP’s poor performance in both the October 2024 lower house elections and the July 2025 upper house elections, where the party and its coalition partner Komeito lost their majorities. His resignation preempts an anticipated challenge today, Monday, from disgruntled LDP lawmakers who were reportedly planning to force an early leadership vote.

The departure of the 68-year-old centrist leader, who cited the conclusion of US tariff negotiations as an opportune moment, now triggers a potentially intense contest for the LDP presidency, a position that automatically confers the premiership. A leadership vote among party lawmakers and rank-and-file members is expected in early October.

Early speculation on successors includes Sanae Takaichi, the ultra-conservative former economic security minister who previously challenged Ishiba, and Shinji Koizumi, the popular agriculture minister and son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. The new leader will face pressing national challenges, including rising regional tensions, a cost of living crisis, and the task of restoring public trust in the LDP following a recent funding scandal. Ishiba’s cabinet approval rating had recently slumped to 32.7%.

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