Ishiba Signals Intention to Remain in Office at LDP Lawmakers' Meeting Amid Resignation Pressure

"Considering Investigation into Causes of Election Defeat by End of August"

On August 8, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed his intention to remain in office during a joint meeting of both houses of the Diet, which was convened at the request of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lawmakers urging his resignation.

Yonhap News

At the meeting held at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo, Prime Minister Ishiba began by apologizing for last month's defeat in the House of Councillors election. However, he stated, "Although we have reached a tariff agreement with the United States, there are still various issues to be resolved in its implementation. I will do my utmost to ensure that those working in the industrial sector feel no anxiety."

These remarks are seen as a reaffirmation of his intention to remain in office, as they echo the justification he has previously given for refusing to step down. After the meeting, Prime Minister Ishiba told reporters that he had emphasized to the assembly the government's and the party's responsibility to ensure that workers in various industries feel secure, especially in light of the follow-up measures required by the tariff agreement with the United States.

He added, "I will take the various opinions seriously and use them as a reference, and I will also use the ongoing evaluation by the General Review Committee (which is examining the causes of the election defeat) as a foundation for moving forward." The evaluation by the General Review Committee is expected to be released around the end of August.

However, regarding the possibility that the "recall provision" (Article 6, Paragraph 4 of the party rules), which allows for an early leadership election, could be invoked, he said, "It will proceed according to party rules," adding, "I cannot comment on this here."

The LDP's recall provision allows for an extraordinary leadership election even during the president's term if a majority of party lawmakers and prefectural chapter representatives request it. However, this provision has never actually been applied.

This meeting was convened after lawmakers from the former Abe, Motegi, and Aso factions, who are pressuring Prime Minister Ishiba to resign, launched a petition demanding the meeting. Although Prime Minister Ishiba still has about two years left in his term as LDP president, calls for his resignation have grown within the party since the defeat in the House of Councillors election.