Japan's ruling LDP to pick new leader after PM Ishiba resigns

"The embattled party faces mounting pressure over soaring rice prices, declining birth rates and immigration. Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is poised to pick its next leader at the start of October, looking to replace departing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba after his resignation on Sunday in the wake of major electoral setbacks. The party will choose its next leader on October 4, committee leaders said Tuesday."

"The candidate could become the country's next prime minister if they win the support of a majority of MPs in Japan's parliament. list of 4 itemsend of list Ishiba took over the LDP in October 2024 from Fumio Kishida, whose leadership was plagued by corruption allegations and a cost-of-living crisis. Within a week of winning the seat, Ishiba called a snap election, telling reporters it was important for the new administration to be judged by the people as soon as possible."

"But bruising election results that month, along with a subsequent defeat in upper-house elections in July, prompted questions about Ishiba's leadership and the future of the LDP. The party has governed Japan for all but four years since 1955, but in recent years has faced mounting pressure over soaring rice prices, declining birth rates and immigration concerns. After resisting calls to resign, Ishiba a 68-year-old centrist who had long sought Japan's top job stepped down on Sunday, saying he would like to pass the baton to the next generation."

"I think PM Ishiba was seen as someone who was unrepresentative of where the LDP and its conservative credentials were. And it was time for him to be pushed out, Stephen Nagy, a visiting fellow at the Japan Institute of International Affairs, told Al Jazeera. He added that Ishiba wasn't seen by the country as a strong steward. The left-leaning Mainichi Shimbun, one of Japan's leading newspapers, wrote in an editorial Tuesday that the LDP's status as a true national party is now in jeopardy."

Shigeru Ishiba resigned as leader of the Liberal Democratic Party after major electoral setbacks, triggering a leadership contest scheduled for October 4. The new leader could become prime minister if they secure majority support from MPs in parliament. Ishiba had taken over the party in October 2024 from Fumio Kishida and called a snap election soon after. Poor election results and an upper-house defeat in July intensified doubts about party leadership and future direction. The LDP confronts public discontent over soaring rice prices, falling birth rates and contentious immigration debates, undermining its national standing.

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