- Japan set for new PM as Kishida bows out as party leader
- PM expected to step down in September when the party selects a new leader
- His decision comes as his popularity has sharply declined
- He came to power in 2021 and has overseen a corruption scandal within his party, rising living costs, and a weakening yen
- His approval ratings hit a record low of 15.5% last month
Japan set for new PM as Kishida bows out as party leader
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has announced that he will not seek re-election as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), signalling a need for a “new start” within the party. The 67-year-old leader, who has served as Prime Minister since 2021, is expected to step down after the LDP selects a new leader in September.
Kishida’s decision comes as his popularity has sharply declined due to a corruption scandal within his party, rising living costs, and a weakening yen. His approval ratings hit a record low of 15.5% last month, the lowest for a Prime Minister in over a decade. This decline has fueled doubts within the LDP about his ability to lead the party to victory in the 2025 general election, despite its long-standing dominance in Japanese politics.
“In the upcoming presidential election, it’s necessary to show the people that the Liberal Democratic Party will change,” Kishida said at a press conference on Wednesday announcing his decision.
“A transparent and open election and free and open debate are important. The first easy-to-understand step that indicates that the LDP will change is for me to step back,” he said.
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— Japanese Politics 🇯🇵🗾⛩️ (@Nihonpolitics) August 14, 2024
PM Kishida has announced that he will NOT run for reelection as LDP President. Thus he'll resign the Prime Ministership as soon as a new leader is elected after the September electionpic.twitter.com/DIW2FdccJR