Fumio Kishida’s Resignation and Political Developments in Japan
Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida, announced that he will sign from his post in September. The announcement marks a turning point in the Kishida era, which has been plagued by political scandals in Japan. Prime Minister Kishida announced at a press conference that he will not seek re-election as leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Kishida said, “Politics cannot function without public trust. I will now focus on supporting the newly elected leader as a member of the party.”
Loss of Public Trust
Kishida’s critical decision will also prompt a search for a new leader for Japan’s fourth-largest economy. Public support for Kishida has been eroding recently due to prosecution that his party is affiliated with the Unification Church, which is said to be affiliated with Moon’s sect, and that donations made at the party’s fundraisers were not recorded. This has had an eroding effect on public confidence.
The LDP leader who replaces Kishida will have to deal with challenges such as unifying a fragmented government, rising costs of living, rising geopolitical tensions with China and the possibility of Donald Trump’s return in the upcoming November elections in the US. In this context, it is eagerly awaited what kind of roadmap the new leader will draw for Japan’s domestic and foreign policies.
