Kishida of Japan announces he will not run in September, opening the door for a new prime minister

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced on Wednesday that he will not run in the upcoming party leadership vote in September, signaling that Japan will soon have a new prime minister. Kishida, who has been in office since 2021, has seen his support ratings drop below 20% due to his party’s corruption scandals. He hopes that stepping aside will demonstrate his commitment to change within the party. Despite his efforts to address the corruption scandal by removing Cabinet ministers and tightening political funds control laws, his government’s popularity has continued to decline. Kishida’s decision not to run in the September vote will allow for a new leader to take over, as the Liberal Democratic Party, which he leads, controls both houses of parliament. The party has faced criticism for money-for-favor politics, and this move is seen as an attempt to bring in a fresh face ahead of the next general election. The corruption scandal involved more than 80 LDP lawmakers and resulted in the indictment of ten people in January. Kishida will now support the new leader chosen in the party vote, in hopes of revitalizing the party’s image and regaining public trust.

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