TOKYO – Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has said at a news conference that he plans to step down, NHK reported Sunday.
Ishiba said he will not run in his ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s upcoming special leadership contest.
It’s also believed he made the decision to try to contain the confusion within his ruling party.
Ishiba said a deal on US tariff measures has now been reached, citing this as a reason for his resignation.
He added that he had told LDP Secretary-General Moriyama Hiroshi to carry out procedures for the presidential election based on the party’s rules.
Ishiba said he hopes the party will begin the process of choosing a new president.
Ishiba took office last October and pledged to tackle inflation as well as to reform the party.
The LDP has been involved in a series of political fundraising scandals.
Shortly after he took power, the LDP and its coalition partner Komeito lost their majority in a Lower House election. The ruling coalition also fell short of a majority in an Upper House election in July.
Amid growing calls for Ishiba to take responsibility for the election result, the LDP had been expected to decide on Monday whether to hold a special leadership contest.
Ishiba met former prime minister Suga Yoshihide and Agriculture Minister Koizumi Shinjiro at his office on Saturday. Sources say Suga and Koizumi told Ishiba that party unity is more important than anything else and suggested he step down before Diet members submit documents on a special leadership election.
