japan-pm-shigeru-ishiba-dismisses-resignation-rumour

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba denied he had decided to resign, pushing back against media reports that claimed he planned to announce his departure to take responsibility for his party’s poor performance in the recent upper house election.

 

Speaking to reporters at party headquarters, the 68-year-old leader said he had made no such decision and called the reports baseless. “I have never made such a statement... The facts reported in the media are completely unfounded,” Ishiba said.

 

The denials came after Japanese media outlets and a source close to the prime minister suggested Ishiba would announce his resignation as early as next month.

 

According to the source, who asked not to be named because they are not authorised to speak to the press, Ishiba chose not to quit immediately after the election loss to avoid political instability as the government raced to finalise a key trade deal with the United States.

 

On Tuesday, Ishiba and US President Donald Trump unveiled an agreement that cuts tariffs on Japanese car imports and spares Tokyo from fresh punitive duties on other goods.

 

The prime minister reportedly wanted to see the August 1 deadline for the deal safely through before addressing his political future.

 

Ishiba’s resignation, if it were to happen less than a year after he took office, would trigger a leadership contest within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. The party now faces growing pressure from emerging political challengers, especially on the right.

 

One such force is the far-right “Japanese First” Sanseito, which made significant gains in Sunday’s vote, increasing its representation in the 248-seat upper house from just one seat to 14.

 

The party has drawn support with promises to restrict immigration, cut taxes, and offer financial relief to families burdened by rising living costs.

 

Ishiba, who served as defence minister in the past and made four unsuccessful bids for the party leadership before defeating hardline conservative Sanae Takaichi in a runoff last year, now faces questions over whether he can hold on to power.

 

His successor, should he step aside, would have to steer the Liberal Democratic Party without a majority in either chamber of the Diet after losing the lower house election last October.

 

Securing enough backing from opposition lawmakers to win confirmation as prime minister would be the new leader’s immediate challenge.