Japan’s Unpopular PM Kishida Will Resign

Fumio Kishida, the prime minister of Japan, declared on Wednesday that he will resign next month, capping a three-year tenure marred by poor approval ratings and a faltering economy.

The prime minister will be chosen from among candidates in the Liberal Democratic Party’s leadership election, which is scheduled to take place next month. The party has ruled virtually continuously for decades.

On Wednesday, Kishida declared that he will not run for party chief again.

“It is imperative that we demonstrate to the people that the LDP is evolving and that this is a new LDP during this (party) presidential election,” Kishida stated to reporters in Tokyo.

“Free and spirited discussion as well as transparent and open elections are crucial for this. “My resignation is the most obvious first step to demonstrate that the LDP will change,” he stated.

Since taking office in October 2021, Kishida, 67, has witnessed a steep decline in both his party’s and his own poll ratings as a result of multiple scandals and rising costs that have hurt Japanese incomes.

To combat inflation and save his premiership, Kishida unveiled a stimulus package in November that totaled 17 trillion yen, or more than $100 billion at the time.

In the fourth largest economy in the world, however, this did not lessen his unpopularity with voters or even inside his own party.

Growth faltered and the yen fell along with inflation, which was an unusual and unwanted phenomenon for many Japanese voters.

Early departure
Kishida gained praise from other countries for his unwavering support of Ukraine following Russia’s invasion and for pushing for a more assertive Japanese defense strategy in opposition to China with US help.

A latticework of security alliances and collaborations across the Indo-Pacific region that will stand the test of time was built under Kishida’s “steadfast leadership,” according to US ambassador Rahm Emanuel on X.

Theoretically, Kishida could have held office until 2025, and there had been rumors that he would call an early election to strengthen his position.

However, NHK revealed that a growing number of LDP members thought the party would perform poorly in elections under Kishida. Three by-elections were lost by the party in April.

Kishida, who avoided injury in a pipe-bomb attack last year, has also come under fire for a significant scandal involving large-scale bribes connected to fundraising events.

According to Koichi Nakano, a political science professor at Sophia University, he resigned because he thought he may lose the leadership contest and may have been urged to do so by party elders.

Nakano told AFP, “He has failed to close ranks within the LDP.”

However, he went on, saying, “An LDP leader’s three-year tenure is longer than average.”

The first female prime minister?
Sanae Takaichi, the minister of economic security, and Taro Kono, the minister of digital affairs, have been suggested as potential successors. Takaichi would be the first female prime minister of Japan.

The others are the son of former PM Junichiro Koizumi, Shinjiro Koizumi, the former environment minister, and Shigeru Ishiba, the former leader of the second party.

Analysts suggested that Kishida’s drive for the dissolution of influential LDP sections due to the funding scandal will alter the complexion of the upcoming leadership contest.

Naofumi Fujimura, a political science professor at Kobe University, stated that “LDP lawmakers and party members are more likely to choose the (party) president who is popular with the people as the general election is close.”

However, voter 40-year-old Kentaro Oba claimed that he had no emotional connection to any of the contenders.

The employee of the company told AFP, “I personally think a change in power might be a good idea because the LDP’s negative aspects have been surfacing lately.”

Akito Kashino, 26, stated, “I personally would like to see someone younger take charge.”

Someone more youthful and capable would be ideal to lead our nation as we have only seen very old leaders do thus far.