File – Japanese Prime Minister Shigro Ishiba is attending a press conference at the Liberal Democratic Party headquarters (LDP) in Tokyo on Monday, July 21, 2025, after the ruling Prime Minister’s alliance failed to secure the majority in the Senate in the parliamentary elections.
Philip Fong/Pool AFP/AP
Hide the explanatory name
Switch the explanatory name
Philip Fong/Pool AFP/AP
TOKIO – Japanese Prime Minister Shigro Ishiba expressed his intention on Sunday to step down after increasing calls from his party to take responsibility for a historic defeat in the parliamentary elections in July.
Ishiba, who took office in October, resisted increasing calls from inside his party to resign for more than a month, saying that this step will lead to a political vacuum when Japan faces major challenges in the country and outside.
His resignation plan comes a day before his liberal democratic party made a resolution of the dispute over whether early leadership elections will be held, or a virtual proposal without confidence against him if approved.
NHK said that Ishiba intends to step down to prevent the party from dividing further. If he had remained, he would definitely fight to manage his divided party and the minority government.
The Prime Minister is expected to hold a press conference later on Sunday.
In July, the ruling Ishiba alliance failed to secure the majority of the Senate 248 seats in decisive parliamentary elections, which increased his government’s stability. The loss added to the defeat of the previous elections in the House of Representatives, as the party -led coalition lost the majority.
His decision came after his meeting on Saturday with the Minister of Agriculture, Cengero Koizumi and his perceived teacher, former Prime Minister Yoshiheed Suja, who apparently suggested the resignation of Ishiba before a vote on Monday.
He previously insisted on staying, stressing the need to avoid political vacuum at a time when Japan faces major challenges, including the American tariff and its impact on the economy, high prices, rice policy reforms, and increased tension in the region.
Since the adoption of last week for LDP for his review of the election, which called for a “comprehensive reform” of the party, voting requests on early leadership or to resign Isaiba before the results of the Monday have gained the strength of the two.
Taro ASO for the conservative heavyweight, known for its anti -Eshiba position, and several ministers and deputies of the cabinet in the Eishpea Council early, prompting others to follow his followers.
Former Minister of Health Norhisa Tamura told NHK talk show earlier on Sunday that the best way to stop the partisan division and move forward is Ishiba “to settle” the conflict before Monday’s vote, and urged his resignation. Tamura said that the party had already paid attention to the necessary work on economic measures and to know ways to obtain opposition support in the upcoming parliamentary session.
As Ishiba as a party leader step down, the Democratic Democratic Party is expected to make a date for its party presidential election, which is likely to be held in early October.
The file – Chigero Ishiba, the Japanese Prime Minister and head of the ruling liberal Democratic Party (LDP) meets with the media at the headquarters of the Liberal Democratic Party in Tokyo on Sunday, July 20, 2025.
Frank Robicon/ EPA/ AP swimming pool
Hide the explanatory name
Switch the explanatory name
Frank Robicon/ EPA/ AP swimming pool
Among the potential candidates Koizumi, in addition to the former Minister of Economic Security, the province, Sanai Takaychi, senior Minister of Cabinet Yoshimasa Hayashi, a mild and former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
Experts say that the leader of the next liberal Democratic Party will have to work with the majority of the majority in both councils.
However, the opposition parties are very widespread that they do not constitute a major alliance to topple the government.
In recent weeks, Ishiba has made US President Donald Trump to reduce the tariff rates imposed by the American administration on Japan from 25 % to 15 %. Ishiba also said he had the chief trade negotiator, Riozi Akazawa, who presents his message to Trump, saying that his desire to work with him to create the “golden age” of the Japanese and Japanese coalition, and called on the American leader to visit Japan.
The Secretary -General of Ishiba, Secretary -General of the National Democratic Party Authority, Hiroshi Moriama, a major figure who negotiated with the main opposition leaders to help achieve legislation since the Prime Minister took office, has intended to step down on September 2 because of the loss of the elections, although Ishiba did not give him his resignation. The departure of Moriama had dealt with the Prime Minister.