Japan PM Shigeru Ishiba to resign amid fallout from disastrous election

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/07/japan-pm-shigeru-ishiba-resign

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Public broadcaster says prime minister has made decision to avoid divide within his Liberal Democratic party

Japan’s prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, has said he is to step down following calls from his party to take responsibility for a disastrous defeat in July’s upper house election.

The public broadcaster NHK said Ishiba made the decision to avoid a divide within the party, while the Asahi Shimbun newspaper said he was unable to withstand the mounting calls for his resignation.

Ishiba, who took office in October, had resisted demands from mostly rightwing opponents within his party for more than a month.

Ishiba’s move comes a day before his Liberal Democratic party is due to decide whether to hold an early leadership election – a virtual no-confidence motion against him if approved. Ishiba said he would start a process to hold a party leadership vote to choose his replacement and that there was no need for Monday’s decision.

In July, Ishiba’s ruling coalition failed to secure a majority in the 248-seat upper house in a crucial parliamentary election, further shaking the stability of his government.

With Agence France-Presse and Associated Press