Kishida to Step Down as Prime Minister

Tokyo, Aug. 14 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Wednesday that he will not run in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in September, a decision that means that he will step down as prime minister after his successor is elected. 
 

Kishida expects that his resignation will help the LDP restore the trust eroded in the wake of its high-profile slush funds scandal. His term as LDP president expires at the end of September.
 

The leadership election needs to present a "new Liberal Democratic Party," Kishida, 67, told a news conference at the prime minister's office.
 

"The most easy-to-understand first step to show that the LDP will change is for me to step down," Kishida said. "I will support the new leader selected through the leadership election as a foot soldier."
 

The next LDP president should be "someone who can keep reform mind going forward," Kishida said, noting efforts made so far to restore confidence in politics.
 

"I want the new leader to form an all-LDP dream team and make efforts to restore trust," he said.
 

Kishida has been struggling with low public approval ratings since late last year due mainly to public criticism stemming from the slush funds scandal.
 

He had been under pressure from some LDP members to resign and take responsibility for the scandal amid worries that Kishida cannot lead the party to victory at the next election for the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of parliament, as the terms of its current lawmakers expire in October 2025.
 

Kishida became prime minister in October 2021 and led his party through the Lower House election that month as well as the House of Councillors election in July 2022. He worked on policies such as boosting defense spending and securing funds for measures aimed at raising the country's birthrate.
 

Former LDP Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba, 67, and digital transformation minister Taro Kono, 61, have expressed their willingness to run in the LDP's leadership race.
 

"I will fulfill my responsibility" if he collects an enough number of recommenders to run in the race, Ishiba told reporters in Taipei.
 

Other names being floated as possible candidates include former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, 43, economic security minister Sanae Takaichi, 63, former economic security minister Takayuki Kobayashi, 49, and LDP Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi, 68.
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