Japan PM Shigeru Ishiba to Resign Amid Fallout from Disastrous Elections
TOKYO - Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced his resignation on Sunday evening, citing responsibility for the party's dismal performance in two recent elections. The decision comes as a surprise, given that Ishiba took office just last October.
Ishiba said he would step down to avoid splitting the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has been reeling from its losses in both the lower and upper house elections. "I want to take responsibility for the election debacles," Ishiba told reporters on Sunday, according to a statement released by his office. "I don't want to open up a decisive split in the LDP."
The LDP's poor showing has left the party's leadership scrambling to regroup and reassess its strategy. The party lost its majority in both houses of parliament after the October lower house elections and repeated the feat in July's upper house polls.
Ishiba's decision is seen as a move to mitigate further divisions within the party, which has been plagued by infighting since his election as leader last autumn. "This is a pragmatic decision," said Kenji Yoshida, a senior LDP member. "The prime minister wants to avoid a messy leadership contest that could further weaken the party."
However, not all members of the LDP are convinced that Ishiba's resignation will be enough to stem the tide of criticism. "It's too little, too late," said Taro Kono, a former foreign minister and vocal critic of Ishiba's leadership. "The prime minister should have taken responsibility for his party's failures long ago."
Ishiba's tenure has been marked by controversy, including criticism over his handling of the economy and his party's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. His resignation sets in motion a potentially messy contest to replace him as leader of the LDP.
The current leadership crisis is likely to have far-reaching implications for Japan's politics, with potential consequences for the country's economic policies and international relationships. As Ishiba prepares to step down, his successor will face significant challenges in rebuilding the party's image and regaining public trust.
In a statement released on Monday morning, the LDP announced that it would hold an emergency meeting to discuss the prime minister's resignation and the next steps for the party. The meeting is expected to take place later this week, with several candidates already emerging as potential contenders for the leadership.
As Japan's politics continue to unfold, one thing is clear: the country's ruling party faces a daunting task in regaining its footing after Ishiba's resignation.
*Reporting by Theguardian.*
