Particle.news
Download on the App Store
86 ARTICLES
·
2d ago

Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba Resigns, Triggering Emergency LDP Leadership Race

He remains caretaker prime minister, with an emergency party vote proceeding in a fractured parliament that is unsettling investors.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced his resignation on Sunday.
Image
Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba attends a press conference at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on September 7, 2025. Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has decided to step down, local media reported on Sunday, as members of his ruling party seek to hold a new leadership race following disastrous upper house elections. (Photo by TORU HANAI / POOL / AFP)
Image

Overview

  • Ishiba said he is stepping down as LDP president and instructed the party to hold an emergency leadership election, staying in office until a successor is chosen.
  • He indicated the LDP would cancel Monday’s planned internal motion on bringing forward a leadership race, which had been viewed as a de facto no-confidence test.
  • Successive defeats left the LDP-Komeito coalition without majorities in both chambers, forcing any new leader to seek cross-party support to pass legislation.
  • Ishiba timed his exit after a U.S.-Japan tariff breakthrough, citing President Donald Trump’s order lowering many levies, including autos, to about 15% and reported large Japanese investment pledges.
  • Potential contenders positioning include Sanae Takaichi, Shinjiro Koizumi, Yoshimasa Hayashi, Takayuki Kobayashi and Katsunobu Kato; candidates need 20 lawmaker endorsements and the winner must secure Diet backing as markets signal caution with yen and JGB weakness.