Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba resigns

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced that he is moving after less than a year in the role, after two major electoral losses.

This decision comes one day before his liberal democratic party (LDP) voted if it is necessary to hold an internal leadership vote which could have forced him to get out.

The LDP has ruled Japan for almost seven decades, but under Ishiba, it lost its majority in the lower chamber for the first time in 15 years, then lost its majority in the upper chamber in July.

Japan, the world’s fourth economy and a key American ally, is now faced with a period of political uncertainty as tensions increase with China and regional insecurity frames.

“Now that a conclusion has been concluded in negotiations concerning American tariff measures, I think that is precisely the right time,” said Ishiba, referring to an agreement signed last week to mitigate the prices imposed by US President Donald Trump on Japanese cars and other exports.

Until Sunday, he had resisted the calls to resign, saying that he was his responsibility to settle the dispute with Washington before resigning.

“I firmly believed that negotiations concerning American tariff measures, which could be described as a national crisis, must be put in conclusion under the responsibility of our administration,” he said.

The 68 -year -old said that he would continue his responsibilities “to the people” until a new Prime Minister is selected.

Ishiba, who took office in October 2024, promising to attack prices, struggled to inspire confidence while the country was confronted with economic-contrary winds, a cost of living crisis and a fractive policy with the United States.

Inflation, in particular the doubling of rice prices in the past year, has been politically damaging.

Public support also slipped after a series of controversies, including criticism of his decision to appoint only two women to his office and to distribute costly gifts to party members.