Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Sunday expressed his intention to resign, as calls from his party grow, asking him to take responsibility for its big defeat in the parliamentary election held
in July.
Ishiba had taken the helm of the long-dominant Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in October last year and has since lost majority in both houses of the Parliament.
He has been resisting demands to step down from rightwing opponents within his own party for over a month.
His decision to offer resignation comes a day before his Liberation Democratic Party will decide whether to hold an early leadership election — a virtual no-confidence motion against him if approved, news agency AP reported.
Public broadcaster NHK said that the Prime Minister made the decision to avoid a split in the party, while the Asahi Shimbun daily said that Ishiba was unable to withstand the growing calls for his resignation.
Former prime minister and current farm minister reportedly called on Ishiba on Saturday night to urge him to step down voluntarily.
Last week, four senior LDP officials, including the party’s number two, Hiroshi Moriyama, offered to resign.
Ishiba’s opponents had been demanding his resignation and asking him to take responsibility for the poll results, following the upper house vote in July.
LDP lawmakers and local officials in Japan who want a new party leader will submit a request on Monday. A leadership election will take place if enough members support it, AFP reported.
