Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba Resigns After Trump Tariff Deal, Move To Avert Party Split After Poll Defeat

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced his resignation on Sunday (7 September) in an effort to avert divisions within his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

The announcement was made by Ishiba at a press conference.

“I have decided to resign from my position as president of the Liberal Democratic Party,” Ishiba said.

Ishiba said a deal on US tariff measures has now been reached, citing this as a reason for his resignation, NHK reported.

"I've always said I will decide what to do in an appropriate timing. With U.S. tariffs negotiation reaching a certain phase, I believe now is the appropriate timing," Ishiba said, Japan Times reported.

"I decided to give way to the next generation," he added.

He further said that Secretary-General Moriyama had been instructed to initiate the process for an extraordinary presidential election under party rules.

Ishiba’s resignation comes a day before the party is set to decide whether to hold an early leadership election.

Such a move, if endorsed, would have effectively served as a vote of no confidence in his leadership.

According to the Associated Press, Ishiba stepped down following mounting internal pressure to accept responsibility for the LDP’s significant losses in the July parliamentary election.

The election setbacks saw the LDP and its coalition ally Komeito lose their majority in the Lower House, followed by the coalition’s defeat in the Upper House in July, stripping them of parliamentary dominance.

The July Parliamentary election proved pivotal as Ishiba’s coalition failed to secure a majority in the 248-seat Upper House, dealing a serious blow to his government’s stability and political standing.

Japan's Kyodo News reported that despite losing majorities in both houses, Ishiba initially pledged to remain as Prime Minister.

However, he ultimately reversed his stance and announced his resignation.

Ishiba, who assumed office in October last year, had resisted demands for resignation from rightwing opponents within his party for over a month.

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