Key points
- LDP coalition stripped of parliamentary majority
- Trade deal with Washington remains unsettled
- Party rivals pressured Ishiba to step down
- Leadership contest vote expected within days
ISLAMABAD: Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has decided to resign to prevent a deeper split in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), public broadcaster NHK reported on Sunday, marking the latest turn in Japan’s unsettled politics.
The move comes after July’s historic election defeat, when Ishiba’s coalition lost its majority in both houses of parliament. The setback sharply curtailed the government’s ability to govern and stirred internal pressure for him to step aside.
Ishiba, who became the prime minister in October 2024, had earlier dismissed speculation about stepping down, arguing he wanted to oversee the implementation of a trade deal with Washington.
Leadership contest
The pact, announced in July, saw US President Donald Trump sign an executive order last week slashing tariffs on Japanese car imports from 27.5 per cent to 15 per cent. Tokyo has said parts of the agreement remain incomplete, including provisions on pharmaceuticals and semiconductors.
Reports in Japanese media suggested that senior LDP members, including the agriculture minister and a former prime minister, met Ishiba on Saturday night to urge him to resign.
A press conference has been scheduled for later Sunday, a day before the LDP was due to vote on whether to hold an early leadership contest.
Postwar era
The LDP has dominated Japanese politics for much of the postwar era, but Ishiba’s resignation—less than a year into his term—underscores the strain facing the party after consecutive electoral setbacks.
The development adds to economic and political uncertainty at a time when Japan is seeking to stabilise its government and manage sensitive trade relations with the United States.
