Japan PM Shigeru Ishiba To Step Down As Leadership Crisis Continues

Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Sunday said he has decided to step down. Ishiba will resign as the leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

Ishiba took office last October and pledged to tackle inflation as well as to reform the party. After he took charge, the LDP and its coalition partner Komeito lost their majority in both houses of parliament.

Addressing a news conference in Tokyo, the PM said his decision to quit comes after what he considers a milestone in Japan-US relations with the closure of a trade deal. Ishiba said that it was the proper time for him to leave as the trade deal had been settled, and he will continue to fulfill his responsibilities until a new leader is decided.

While acknowledging the trade deal is a positive step, he cautioned that it is "not completely over" and must be properly implemented, expressing his hope that the next prime minister will see the deal through to the end and continue with diplomatic efforts.

Domestically, Ishiba stated his intention to push forward policy to boost rice production. He also mentioned that the consumption tax is a vital source for social security, but he recognized that it places a burden on low-income groups.

The LDP has been involved in a series of political fundraising scandals. The party is expected to decide on Monday whether to hold a special leadership contest.

Ishiba will be the third leader to step down since Shinzo Abe, Japan’s longest-serving premier, left office in 2020. The party has yet to fully fill a power vacuum left by Abe’s 2022 assassination.