Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will not run for party reelection, local media report
SUMMARY
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has informed his party executives that he will not seek re-election in the upcoming Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership vote in September. This decision means Japan will soon have a new prime minister, as the LDP controls both houses of parliament. Kishida, who became LDP president in 2021, has seen his support ratings plummet below 20%, largely due to a corruption scandal involving unreported political funds linked to his party. The scandal led to indictments and the removal of key Cabinet ministers, diminishing his influence within the party. Despite efforts to reform the party, including dissolving factions and tightening political funds laws, Kishida’s administration has struggled to regain public trust, prompting calls for new leadership ahead of the next general election.
