Japan PM’s resignation seen as inevitable
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s resignation is viewed as inevitable following the major setback for the governing coalition in the House of Councilors election, ruling party executives said on Wednesday.
Ishiba, head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), is likely to make the final decision in August on whether to step down, the executives added, amid growing calls among LDP members for him to take responsibility for Sunday’s election outcome.
Asked by reporters about his future earlier in the day, Ishiba said, “I cannot comment until I have carefully examined the contents” of the trade agreement between Japan and the United States, reached just ahead of his meeting with the media.
Dissatisfaction
He added he would talk with Japan’s top negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, after his return to Tokyo from Washington.
Ishiba is expected to meet later Wednesday with former Prime Ministers Taro Aso, Yoshihide Suga and Fumio Kishida to explain his decision to remain in office despite a crushing upper house election loss.
Younger and mid-ranking LDP lawmakers, meanwhile, have begun collecting signatures to demand a joint meeting of party members to hold Ishiba accountable, as dissatisfaction with the leadership continues to mount within regional chapters.
