A Short Tenure

Ishiba’s resignation comes less than a year after the 68-year-old assumed leadership of the PLD and, consequently, the premiership.In Japan, the prime minister is typically the president of the dominant party, a role the PLD has held for the majority of recent decades. According to NHK, regional PLD officials were planning to call for a new leadership election as early as Monday.

NHK reports that “Shigeru Ishiba wishes to avoid divisions within his party,” while the Asahi Shimbun suggests that he could no longer withstand the growing calls for his departure.On Saturday, Ishiba reportedly consulted with minister of Agriculture Shinjiro Koizumi and former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who urged him to step down, according to Japanese media outlets. Prior to this, four senior PLD officials, including secretary general Hiroshi Moriyama, had offered their resignations, further weakening Ishiba’s position.

Ishiba, who took office on October 1, 2024, following the resignation of his predecessor Fumio Kishida, faced increasing internal criticism within the PLD due to the party’s poor performance in recent elections. During the July 20 senatorial elections, the coalition led by the PLD lost its majority, just months after being compelled to form a minority government following electoral setbacks in the lower house.

“Shigeru Ishiba wishes to avoid divisions within his party.”

A Seemingly Contradictory Situation

The resignation occurs despite Ishiba’s rising approval ratings in recent polls, especially following a trade agreement with the United States. His government’s popularity surprisingly rebounded in late August,reaching 39% approval,a 17-point increase compared to July,according to a Yomiuri survey.

The Yomiuri survey indicated that a majority (50%) of Japanese citizens wanted the Prime Minister to remain in office, compared to 42% who favored his resignation. A Mainichi poll showed 33% support for Ishiba, a four-point increase and the first time he had exceeded 30% as February. Yomiuri attributes this rise to the trade agreement finalized with the United States in late July, which reduced American customs duties from 25% to 15%. The newspaper also cited government efforts to curb rising rice prices, which have contributed to inflation in japan.

Potential successors include Sanae Takaichi, a prominent nationalist who finished second in the 2024 leadership election. she has already announced her candidacy. A Nikkei survey from late August identified Takaichi as the most “appropriate” candidate to succeed Ishiba, followed by Minister of Agriculture Koizumi.