Press Conference Held on the Afternoon of the 7th
"With Tariff Negotiations with the U.S. Concluded, Now Is the Right Time to Step Down"
Koizumi and Takaichi Among Leading Successor Candidates
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba officially announced his intention to step down as prime minister on the 7th, stating, "I have decided to resign from the presidency of the Liberal Democratic Party."
At a press conference held at the Prime Minister's Office that afternoon, Prime Minister Ishiba made this statement and said, "I hope the procedures to elect a new (Liberal Democratic Party) president will begin."
He explained that he believed now was the appropriate time to step down, as the tariff negotiations with the United States had concluded, and added, "I have made the decision to yield the way to my successors." Regarding the U.S.-Japan tariff negotiations, Prime Minister Ishiba further commented, "With this agreement, a cornerstone has been laid for securing Japan's economic security and accelerating economic growth, but this is not the end."
He expressed deep regret, saying, "I am truly ashamed that I could not meet the expectations of so many who elected me in the Liberal Democratic Party presidential election last September," and emphasized that he takes full responsibility for the party's defeat in the House of Councillors (upper house) election last July. However, regarding the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's "slush fund scandal," he stated, "Public distrust has not yet been dispelled," adding, "This weighs most heavily on my mind."
During the press conference, while discussing diplomatic achievements, Prime Minister Ishiba highlighted that he had held fruitful talks with President Lee Jaemyung and stressed the need for solidarity with various Asian countries.
Prime Minister Ishiba, who took office in October last year, has faced intense pressure to resign within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party since the party's defeat in the House of Councillors (upper house) election on July 20 this year. Although he repeatedly stated his intention to remain as prime minister, emphasizing that there should be no vacuum in state affairs, he ultimately announced his intention to resign just before the Liberal Democratic Party was about to invoke its "recall provision" to decide whether to hold an early presidential election.
In Japan's parliamentary system, the leader of the majority party becomes prime minister, and currently, the Liberal Democratic Party is the largest party. However, since Prime Minister Ishiba took office, both the House of Representatives (lower house) and the House of Councillors (upper house) have shifted to a situation where the opposition holds the majority.
Prime Minister Ishiba is expected to step down as prime minister once a new Liberal Democratic Party president is elected and the subsequent prime ministerial nomination vote is held. He stated, "Until a new president is chosen, I will faithfully fulfill my responsibilities to the people and then entrust the future to the new president and prime minister."
The leading candidates for the next Liberal Democratic Party president include Shinjiro Koizumi, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, known as the "leader of the 40s generation," and Sanae Takaichi, the former Minister for Economic Security, who is also referred to as the "female Abe." In last year's Liberal Democratic Party presidential election, former Minister Takaichi placed first in the initial round of voting and advanced to the runoff against Prime Minister Ishiba, but was defeated by him. Minister Koizumi ranked third in the first round of voting.
According to a public opinion poll conducted by the Nihon Keizai Shimbun from August 29 to 31, former Minister Takaichi ranked first in preference for the next prime minister with 23%, while Minister Koizumi was second with 22%. Among Liberal Democratic Party supporters, Minister Koizumi led with 32%, ahead of former Minister Takaichi, who had 17%.
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