There are reports that Shigeru Ishiba, the Prime Minister of Japan, has decided to resign. After a heavy loss in the elections, his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) put a lot of pressure on him. Several Japanese news outlets, such as the public broadcaster NHK, report that Ishiba will step down to keep the party from splitting up even more.
One day before the LDP was set to vote on whether or not to have an early leadership contest, Ishiba made his choice. A lot of people thought this meant they didn’t trust his leadership. He is slated to hold a news conference later on Sunday to make the announcement official.
Losing the election and additional stress
The choice was made after the LDP-led alliance did poorly in the body of Councillors election in July 2025. This was the first time in the party’s history that it lost its majority in the upper body of parliament. Less than a year after Ishiba’s alliance lost its majority in the lower house in a quick general election he called shortly after he joined office, he lost.
There has been more and more pressure from within the LDP for weeks, especially from those who are more conservative. People who don’t like Ishiba’s ideals or how he hasn’t dealt with people’s frustration about the economy and growing costs say that’s why the party did poorly at the polls. At first, Ishiba didn’t want to quit, but a recent poll showed that just 23% of people still liked him.
The struggle for succession and political instability
Because Ishiba is leaving, the LDP will have to organize a new election for its leader. The winner will also be the future Prime Minister of Japan. The sudden departure will make things much more unstable politically as the country battles with economic problems and a divided parliament. Two persons who could take his place are Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi and former Foreign Minister Yōko Kamikawa.