Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has reportedly declared he would not run for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) re-election next month.
Kishida explained the decision in a press conference held on Wednesday: “It is important to show the public that LDP will change in the upcoming party leadership election. As a condition for forming the policies of the election, which demand transparency, openness, and arguments, the most important thing to do is to show the will to change using stepping down by myself.”
Kishida praised the achievements of his administration and pointed out that the country finally emerged from the prolonged period of deflation on this score, with an increase in wages and investments. He also pointed out changes in energy policy to meet the increase in electric power demand and the adoption of the “Two Children per Woman” strategy for the actual measures about the low birthrate and enhancement in defense capability.
He also called for support for a new party leader. And because of these cautionary local election setbacks, he suffered earlier in the year, his stock has fallen, and many LDP lawmakers are urging the necessity of having a new face in front of the next general election.
Kishida resigned last week over a political funding scandal that broke out in the ruling LDP camp, where more than 80 lawmakers were found reportedly not to have declared party ticket sales as income.
The response from the Japan parliament has been mixed. A senior LDP official told NHK that although they had been trying to persuade Kishida to keep serving, he said leaving at this time when the pending issues have not been resolved would be irresponsible.
Kyodo reported that Kishida’s support has dropped drastically and is now standing at less than 20 percent after the scandal became public near the end of last year. The Prime Minister, Kakushin Shidama, told reporters he would remain an LDP member but refused to announce his preference for the successor in the post of party leader and prime minister.
Former Defence Minister Shigeru Ishiba has made a statement that he will challenge the LDP leadership, and this has also reportedly been said to LDP Vice President Taro Aso by Digital Minister Taro Kono. Others in the fray as possible challengers include LDP Secretary General Toshimitsu Motegi, Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi, former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, and ex-Economic Security Minister Takayuki Kobayashi.
ANI