Tokyo – Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba plans to resign to avert a division within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), local media reported on Sunday. Party members are preparing for a new leadership contest following disappointing electoral results, reports 24brussels.
Public broadcaster NHK noted Ishiba’s move aims to prevent internal strife, while the Asahi Shimbun highlighted escalating pressures surrounding his leadership position. A meeting occurred on Saturday night, where the farm minister and a former prime minister advised Ishiba to step down voluntarily.
What role did poor election results play?
This resignation comes less than a year into Ishiba’s tenure as leader of the long-established LDP. His leadership has witnessed the loss of majority control in both chambers of the parliament. The LDP-led coalition has faced significant setbacks in parliamentary elections since last year due to voters’ dissatisfaction over rising living costs.
On Monday, LDP lawmakers are expected to vote on holding an extraordinary leadership election. Recently, four senior officials from the LDP, including the party’s second-in-command Hiroshi Moriyama, proposed their resignations. Critics of Ishiba have called for him to accept responsibility for the poor election outcomes.
How did the 2024 lower house vote impact the LDP?
In the Lower House elections on October 27, 2024, the LDP and its coalition partner Komeito lost their parliamentary majority for the first time since 2009. With just 191 out of 465 seats, the LDP recorded its second-worst performance in history. The main opposition party, CDP, made significant gains, securing a total of 148 seats. Smaller parties including DPP, Reiwa Shinsengumi, Sanseitō, and the far-right Conservative Party also improved their standings.
What parallels exist with past prime minister resignations?
Historically, several Japanese Prime Ministers have resigned under similar pressures stemming from electoral defeats and political controversies. For instance, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida resigned under pressure in 2024 following a series of corruption scandals involving LDP members and public dissatisfaction over increasing living expenses.
Kishida’s approval ratings plummeted to record lows, prompting him to decline seeking another term as party leader, leading to his resignation as Prime Minister when the LDP selected a new leader in September 2024.
