Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba Resigns After Election Defeat, Triggering LDP Leadership Race
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba resigned after a July election defeat and loss of parliamentary majority, triggering a leadership race within Japan's struggling LDP. Toshimitsu Motegi is a declared candidate.
The leadership race for Japan's governing LDP party explained
Associated Press
Overview
- Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba resigned from office and as LDP leader following his ruling coalition's significant defeat in July's parliamentary election, losing its majority.
- Ishiba faced mounting internal party pressure and demands for his resignation for over a month, struggling to manage a divided party amidst economic challenges and high inflation.
- His decision to step down occurred one day before the LDP was set to decide on an early leadership election, potentially facing a no-confidence motion.
- Ishiba's resignation has triggered a leadership race within Japan's governing LDP party, which is expected to take place on October 4th.
- Toshimitsu Motegi has announced his candidacy for the LDP leadership, with candidates needing nominations from 20 fellow parliamentarians to enter the competition.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story by emphasizing the political instability and economic uncertainty following Ishiba's resignation. They highlight negative market reactions and portray potential successor Sanae Takaichi as a "nationalistic" and "ultra-conservative" figure whose policies could strain the economy and worsen relations with China, creating a narrative of heightened risk and potential disruption.
"The jockeying for a new prime minister began on Monday as outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s beleaguered long-governing Liberal Democratic Party struggles to stay in office as Japan faces challenges such as U.S. tariffs, an increasingly assertive China and growing populism at home."
ABC News"Japan faces challenges such as growing tension from China, North Korea and Russia, U.S. President Donald Trump administration’s tariffs and other demands, including increased defense spending and purchases of U.S. weapons, rising prices at home, rice policy reforms, an aging and shrinking population and growing attention on immigration policies."
Associated Press"Japan's yen sank and super long-term bond yields scaled record highs after Ishiba's resignation stoked speculation that policies favoured by potential successors may strain the world's most indebted advanced economy."
USA TODAY"Ishiba grappled with a sluggish economy, high inflation, and trade turmoil, none of which he managed to fully resolve."
Semafor"Ishiba's ruling coalition failed to secure a majority in the 248-seat upper house in a crucial parliamentary election, further shaking the stability of his government."
CBS News"Ishiba's ruling coalition failed to secure a majority in the 248-seat upper house in a crucial parliamentary election, further shaking the stability of his government."
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FAQ
A candidate must be a member of the LDP in the National Diet and receive nominations from at least 20 fellow LDP parliamentarians to enter the leadership race.
Toshimitsu Motegi has officially announced his candidacy. Other likely contenders include Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, Sanae Takaichi, and Takayuki Kobayashi, all of whom have prior experience and varying political stances within the party.
The LDP leadership election is scheduled to take place on October 4, 2025.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's resignation after his ruling coalition's significant defeat in the July parliamentary election and loss of majority triggered the leadership race.
The ruling coalition's loss of majority in both houses means the new LDP leader must be able to cooperate with main opposition parties, which are more centrist, to effectively govern.
History
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