TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio said Wednesday that he will not run in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s leadership election in September, a decision that means that he will step down as prime minister after his successor is elected.

His term as LDP president expires at the end of September.

Kishida, 67, told a news conference at the prime minister’s office that the leadership election needs to present a “new Liberal Democratic Party.”

“The most easy-to-understand first step to show that the LDP will change is for me to step down,” Kishida said. “I will support the new leader selected through the leadership election as a foot soldier.”

Kishida has been struggling with low public approval ratings since late last year due mainly to public criticism stemming from a slush funds scandal involving the LDP.

He had been under pressure from some LDP members to resign and take responsibility for the scandal amid worries that Kishida cannot lead the party to victory at the next election for the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of parliament, as the terms of its current lawmakers expire in October 2025.

Kishida became prime minister in October 2021 and led his party through the Lower House election that month as well as the House of Councillors election in July 2022. He worked on policies such as boosting defense spending and securing funds for measures aimed at raising the country’s birthrate.

Former LDP Secretary-General Shigeru Ishiba, 67, and digital transformation minister Taro Kono, 61, have expressed their willingness to run in the LDP’s leadership race.

Other names being floated as possible candidates include former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, 43, economic security minister Sanae Takaichi, 63, former economic security minister Takayuki Kobayashi, 49, and LDP Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi, 68.

JIJI Press