Japan's PM Shigeru Ishiba to resign as party infighting grows over election debacle: Report

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has decided to resign in an effort to avoid a split within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) amid overall political instability in Japan. The news of Ishiba’s resignation started floating on Sunday and was first reported by public broadcaster NHK.

However, the Prime Minister’s office did not immediately respond for comment, and the matter has not been made public as of now. It is pertinent to note that the announcement of Ishiba’s resignation is coming weeks after the Japanese premier denied reports that he plans to resign over a historic defeat his LDP-led coalition suffered in a July election.

The party, which has ruled the country for several years, lost its upper house majority this year. Last month, Ishiba said he wanted to make sure the tariff deal struck with the United States was appropriately implemented before he made any such decision.

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Anger among the people of Japan over the growing cost of living has led to the LDP-led coalition losing a majority in both houses of the parliament.

Amid the reports of Ishiba’s resignation, LDP lawmakers are scheduled to vote on Monday and decide whether to hold an extraordinary leadership election. Last week, Ishiba’s government had already finalised a trade deal with the United States.

The PM who won the battle but lost the war

Since assuming his role last October, Ishiba has witnessed one electoral loss after another. The Japanese Prime Minister is holding on to power with a minority government, which is more powerful in the lower house.

However, the electoral defeats have made it more difficult for Ishiba’s coalition to implement its policy objectives. Ishiba have been facing calls for resignation from mostly right-wing opponents within his party, who urged him to take responsibility for the results of July’s vote.

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According to NHK, reports suggested that Japan’s agricultural minister and a former prime minister met with Ishiba on Saturday evening to persuade him to resign. Amid speculations, the Japanese government confirmed that Ishiba would be giving a press conference later on Sunday.

This is a developing story.