Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba says he will resign after losing his party’s majority in parliament.
Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced on Sunday that he will step down after less than a year in office, following his party’s loss of majority in both houses of parliament.
“Now that negotiations on US tariff measures have reached a conclusion, I believe this is the appropriate moment,” Ishiba said at a news conference in Tokyo.
The 68-year-old leader said the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) should prepare for a leadership election, adding that he would remain in office until then.
Ishiba’s decision comes amid rising food prices, corruption scandals, and anger over the LDP’s poor electoral performance. Lower house elections in October 2024 saw the party suffer its worst result in 15 years.
Media reports suggest mounting calls for his resignation and internal party pressure influenced his move. Ishiba confirmed he would not seek re-election as leader.
Hardline nationalist Sanae Takaichi and farm minister Shinjiro Koizumi are seen as possible successors.