Tokyo [Japan], September 7 (HBTV): Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru on Sunday announced his decision to step down from office, more than a month after his party suffered a major electoral setback in the Japanese Parliament, NHK World reported.
In July, Ishiba faced a significant defeat when his coalition failed to secure a majority in the upper house of parliament. This came after the party had already lost its majority in the lower house last year.
Despite the setback, Ishiba had initially ruled out resigning, saying he wanted to avoid a political stalemate and maintain leadership during what he described as a national crisis, citing rising household costs and looming US tariffs. He had acknowledged his ‘heavy responsibility’ for the outcome but reaffirmed in August that he would continue in office despite mounting pressure to step down.
According to Kyodo News, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), led by Ishiba, convened a crucial meeting after the defeat and discussed the possibility of holding an early leadership vote, originally scheduled for 2027. At a separate meeting in July, most attendees reportedly urged Ishiba to take responsibility and resign.
The ruling LDP-Komeito coalition dropped from 141 to 122 seats in the 248-member upper house, falling short of a simple majority. While less powerful than the lower house, the upper house plays a key role in passing legislation.
(ANI)