Prime Minister Ishiba to Resign by End of August, Following Senate Election Review - Mainichi Shimbun
On July 23, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba solidified his intention to announce his resignation by the end of August, based on the Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) review of the recent Senate election, and has informed those close to him. On the same day, Ishiba is expected to meet with LDP senior figures, including top advisor Taro Aso, vice president Yoshihide Suga, and former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, to discuss his future.
However, following the LDP’s significant defeat in the Senate election, Ishiba initially expressed his intent to continue as prime minister, which has sparked growing calls for his resignation and criticism within the party. This could lead to a shift in the timing of his decision.
Local party organizations have been urging Ishiba to step down or reform the party’s leadership structure, while mid-level and younger lawmakers are calling for a General Meeting of LDP Members from Both Houses, the party’s second-highest decision-making body, to hold an early leadership election.
Ishiba Cabinet Timeline, Part 1
In light of these circumstances, Ishiba aims to exchange views with the three former prime ministers and seek their understanding. It is unusual for a sitting prime minister to meet collectively with former prime ministers. A government official noted, “Prime Minister Ishiba will approach the three with humility.”
The party leadership had initially planned to hold a joint meeting of both houses on July 31 but is now considering moving it forward to as early as July 29 to begin the Senate election review. After completing the review in August, the leadership will decide how to address responsibility. Election strategy chief Seiji Kihara has indicated his intent to resign once the review is complete, and the prime minister, as party president, will also face a decision on his future. A senior administration official stated, “Once the review is finalized, the leadership must make a firm decision on responsibility.”
Ishiba Cabinet Timeline, Part 2
If Ishiba resigns this month, a special session of the Diet scheduled for next month would hold a prime ministerial election. However, with the LDP in a minority government, there is no guarantee that the party president would be elected prime minister. To allow time for negotiations with opposition parties regarding the prime ministerial designation, Ishiba is considering announcing his resignation after next month.
On July 23, when asked by reporters at the Prime Minister’s Office about the impact of the reported Japan-U.S. tariff negotiation agreement—one of the reasons he cited for continuing in office—on his decision to resign, Ishiba said, “I cannot comment until the details of the agreement are thoroughly examined.”
