Ishiba, Who Said "No Resignation," Likely to Step Down as Early as This Month

Local Media Outlets Such as Mainichi and Yomiuri Report
Responsibility for Crushing Defeat in House of Councillors Election
Preparations Underway to Elect a New Party President

Shigeru Ishiba, Prime Minister of Japan and President of the Liberal Democratic Party. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

Following the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's crushing defeat in the House of Councillors (upper house) election, it is anticipated that Shigeru Ishiba, Prime Minister of Japan and President of the Liberal Democratic Party, may announce his resignation as early as this month.

The Yomiuri Shimbun reported that Prime Minister Ishiba is considering announcing his resignation as early as this month, following the conclusion of the US-Japan tariff negotiations. According to the newspaper, Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's Minister for Economic Revitalization and the country's chief negotiator in the tariff talks, will return to Japan on the 24th. After receiving a briefing on the details of the agreement, Ishiba will determine the timing of his resignation announcement, taking into account the necessity of a US-Japan summit and other political schedules.

Initially, local Japanese media predicted that Ishiba might step down next month, but there are now expectations that the timing could be moved up. Previously, the Mainichi Shimbun, citing sources within the Liberal Democratic Party, reported that Ishiba had resolved to announce his resignation by the end of August and had communicated this intention to those around him.

Earlier, Ishiba faced criticism both within and outside the party regarding the causes of the defeat in the House of Councillors election held on the 20th. The House of Councillors election is held every three years to elect half of its 248 members, or 124 seats. In this election, Ishiba set the goal of maintaining a majority (50 seats) for the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito in the upper house. However, the coalition ultimately secured only 47 seats in total.

Despite this, Ishiba had previously indicated his intention to remain as prime minister, citing policy challenges such as the US-Japan tariff negotiations, high inflation, natural disasters, and the security environment. However, it appears that his stance has since changed.

Nevertheless, local media added that the timing of Ishiba's decision could vary depending on the intensity of calls for his resignation within the party. Some Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers have already begun collecting signatures to demand a joint meeting of both houses to hold Ishiba accountable for the election results. According to Reuters, some within the party have also begun preparations for a leadership election to select a new president.

Once a new president of the Liberal Democratic Party is elected, a vote to designate the new prime minister will be held in the House of Representatives. However, since the Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner Komeito currently do not hold a majority in the lower house, the process of selecting a new prime minister could become complicated.

Meanwhile, Ishiba is reportedly scheduled to meet with former prime ministers Taro Aso, Yoshihide Suga, and Fumio Kishida later today to explain his position regarding his continuation in office.