“It is important to give the LDP a new face at the top,” Kishida said at a press conference in Tokyo on Wednesday. “The first step is for me to resign.” Kishida, who has been in office since October 2021, justified his move by saying he wanted to serve the public interest in the best possible way.
The LDP will now have to elect a new party leader, who will probably also take over the office of prime minister. It is still unclear who Kishida’s successor might be.
Kishida announced his full support for the new party chairman. He did not comment on possible successors, as it was “not appropriate” for him as the outgoing chairman to comment on the matter. However, he hoped that the enthusiasm for change in the LDP would not wane under the new leadership.
Several ministers had to resign
The outgoing head of government also took responsibility for problems caused by party members. “As chairman of the LDP, I am not afraid to take responsibility for problems caused by members,” he said. He admitted that he had been thinking about his responsibilities as party chairman since the financial scandal became known. Several ministers in his government had to resign after it became known that they had not properly taxed income from fundraising events.
Kishida came to power on a promise to fight economic inequality and strengthen Japan’s middle class. During his relatively short term in office, Kishida faced major challenges, including the coronavirus pandemic, rising living costs and geopolitical tensions in the region. Despite some foreign policy successes, such as strengthening relations with the US and other allies, many of his domestic reform promises remained unfulfilled, leading to growing discontent among the population.
The LDP has ruled Japan almost continuously since its founding in 1955. Kishida’s decision could have a significant impact on the political landscape of the world’s fourth-largest economy and open a new chapter in the LDP’s leadership.