Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has told aides he intends to resign, Japanese television reported Sunday, a move that follows growing pressure from members of his own Liberal Democratic Party to take responsibility for his coalition’s poor showing in July’s parliamentary election.
Ishiba, who took office in October, had resisted demands for more than a month from opponents within the party, many of them on the right, to step down. The reported decision comes one day before party officials are due to decide whether to hold an early LDP leadership election — a vote that party critics and analysts view as a virtual no-confidence motion if approved.
In July, the ruling coalition failed to win a majority in the 248-seat upper house, eroding the government’s legislative strength and heightening questions about its stability. The loss intensified internal party criticism of Ishiba’s leadership and prompted calls for a change at the top of the LDP to regroup ahead of upcoming policy challenges and electoral contests.
Party officials said the LDP meeting scheduled for Monday will consider whether to start procedures for an early leadership contest. If the party moves forward and selects a new leader, that person would customarily become prime minister because the LDP heads the ruling coalition. Japanese television reported Ishiba informed senior aides of his intention to step down but offered no public statement Sunday.
Ishiba assumed office in October after intra-party shifts elevated him to the premiership. Since taking office, he has faced friction with conservative factions in the LDP, which have grown increasingly vocal after the July setback. The prospect of an early leadership election reflects those divisions as well as concerns about the coalition’s ability to pass legislation and govern effectively without a stable majority in the upper chamber.
Political analysts say an early change in party leadership could reshape Japan’s immediate policy direction, though any substantive shifts would depend on the identity and priorities of a successor. Until the LDP selects a new leader, convention and precedent suggest Ishiba would remain in office in a caretaker capacity to manage day-to-day government functions.
The reported resignation announcement sets a rapid timeline for the party. LDP members must now weigh whether an expedited leadership contest would restore unity and public confidence or further deepen factional splits. The outcome of the party’s decision will determine whether Ishiba leaves office swiftly or continues as prime minister while the party organizes a more conventional contest.
No official confirmation from the prime minister’s office or an immediate comment from LDP headquarters was available Sunday. Further developments are expected after the party meeting, when officials may announce whether they will proceed with an early leadership vote and outline the timetable for any transition of power.