Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has expressed his intention to step down, a day before the party decides whether to hold a presidential contest, Kyodo news agency reported on Sunday, citing senior government officials.
Japan’s government announced that PM Ishiba would hold a press conference at 6 p.m. (0900 GMT).
On Monday, the LDP plans to collect signatures from its lawmakers to determine whether to hold a presidential election ahead of the scheduled contest in 2027, amid mounting calls for Ishiba to take responsibility for the loss of the ruling coalition’s majority in the House of Councillors election in July, according to Kyodo News.
Since he came to power in September last year, Ishiba’s coalition has lost its majorities in elections for both houses of parliament amid voter anger over rising living costs.
