Shigeru Ishiba quits as Japan’s Prime Minister following election losses
The LDP, which has governed Japan almost continuously since the 1950s, lost its majority in the lower house during last month’s general election—the first such defeat in 15 years.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba resigned on Sunday after his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) suffered two major election defeats, ending its decades-long dominance in Parliament.
The LDP, which has governed Japan almost continuously since the 1950s, lost its majority in the lower house during last month’s general election—the first such defeat in 15 years. In July, the party also lost control of the upper house, deepening its political crisis.
Ishiba announced his resignation just a day before LDP leaders were expected to decide whether to hold an internal vote that could have forced him out.
According to Ishiba, who has been in office for less than a year, he was stepping down to take responsibility for the party’s losses. He explained that he delayed his departure until the conclusion of a trade deal with the United States on tariffs.
"Now that a conclusion has been reached in the negotiations concerning the US tariff measures, I believe this is precisely the appropriate time. I have strongly believed that negotiations concerning the US tariff measures, which could be described as a national crisis, must be brought to a conclusion under our administration's responsibility," he said, according to the BBC.
His resignation triggers a leadership contest within the LDP, with the winner set to be confirmed by Parliament as Japan’s next prime minister in the coming weeks. In the meantime, Ishiba will remain in office until his successor is chosen.
Ishiba became prime minister in October 2024, vowing to stabilise the economy and tackle rising food prices. Instead, inflation worsened and the cost of rice doubled within a year, fuelling public anger.
His approval ratings sank further after criticism over appointing only two women to his Cabinet, and following reports that he gave expensive gifts to party members—controversies that eroded his credibility.
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