A new chapter in Japanese politics is set to begin after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced his exit, paving the way for a fierce leadership battle within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. His resignation marks the end of a short and troubled administration.
Ishiba’s premiership was undone by his inability to win key elections. The LDP-led coalition’s loss of its majorities in both the lower and upper houses of parliament was a blow from which his leadership never recovered, fueling a successful internal campaign to replace him.
By stepping down, Ishiba has accepted responsibility for these failures and cleared the stage for his potential successors. The leadership contest, expected to take place in early October, will feature prominent party figures and will be closely watched both at home and abroad.
The winner will become Japan’s next prime minister, inheriting a nation grappling with a cost of living crisis, a complex security environment, and the challenge of restoring public trust in a political system recently tarnished by scandal.
