Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced his decision to step down in September, ending a three-year term marred by political scandals. His resignation paves the way for a new premier to address the economic challenges of rising prices.
“Politics cannot function without public trust,” Kishida stated during a press conference on Wednesday, where he revealed his decision not to seek re-election as the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader. “I will now focus on supporting the newly elected LDP leader as a rank-and-file member of the party,” he added.
パリ・オリンピックのメダリストが表敬に来てくれました。ひたむきな選手の姿に私も手に汗握って応援しました。
国外開催で最多となる金メダル20個を含む45個のメダルは、日本を代表して五輪に参加した全ての選手とスタッフ全員の努力の結晶です。
日本中が勇気と感動を頂きました！本当にありがとう！ https://t.co/47uZyiS1or— 岸田文雄 (@kishida230) August 13, 2024
Kishida’s departure triggers a contest to replace him as the president of the LDP, and by extension, as the leader of the world’s fourth-biggest economy. His public support has been declining due to revelations about the LDP’s connections with the controversial Unification Church and unrecorded political donations made at party fundraising events.
Additionally, Kishida faced public discontent over the failure of wages to keep pace with the rising cost of living, as the country finally emerged from years of deflationary pressure.
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