TOKYO (Reuters) -Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he will step down in September, ending a three-year term marred by political scandals and paving the way for a new premier to address the impact of rising prices. As Kishida resigns amid scandals, political leaders and citizens alike react to the news. #KishidaResignsAmidScandals
“Politics cannot function without public trust,” Kishida said in a press conference on Wednesday to announce 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 said.
His decision to quit triggers a contest to replace him as president of the party, and by extension as the leader of the world’s fourth-biggest economy.
Kishida’s public support has been sliding due to revelations about the LDP’s ties to the controversial Unification Church. Additionally, unrecorded political donations made at party fundraising events have further damaged his standing.
But he also faced public discontent over the failure of wages to keep track with the rising cost of living as the country finally shook off years of deflationary pressure.
“An LDP incumbent prime minister cannot run in the presidential race unless he’s assured of a victory. It’s like the grand champion yokozunas of sumo. You don’t just win, but you need to win with grace,” said Koichi Nakano, political science professor at Sophia University. #KishidaResignsAmidScandals
Ultimately, Kishida resigns amid scandals, reflecting the broader impact of political scandals on leadership stability. The fallout from his resignation will shape Japan’s political landscape in the coming months. Transitioning to a new leader, Japan faces the challenge of overcoming the controversies that led to Kishida’s departure.
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