Overview

• Public broadcaster NHK reported that Shigeru Ishiba has decided to step down to prevent further division within the Liberal Democratic Party.
• The LDP is set to vote Monday on whether to hold an early leadership election that would serve as a virtual no-confidence test.
• The decision comes after the LDP-Komeito coalition lost its Upper House majority in July following an earlier loss of its Lower House majority.
• Ishiba had resisted calls to quit for weeks and recently vowed to lead an economic stimulus effort despite internal pressure.
• LDP secretary-general Hiroshi Moriyama has said he intends to resign, signaling wider accountability moves within party leadership.