PM Ishiba plans to stay on for now despite LDP aide's readiness to quit

TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Tuesday that he would determine his political future at an "appropriate time," reiterating his intention to stay on for now to pursue policy goals, even as a close aide voiced his readiness to resign from a key post, Kyodo News Agency reported.

But mounting calls from lawmakers within Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) for a snap presidential election to replace him have clouded his prospects as political leader, after the ruling bloc lost its majority in the House of Councillors.

On Tuesday, the ruling party released a review report in which LDP executives analysed the reasons for its crushing loss in the July 20 upper house election, but the paper stopped short of assigning blame to Ishiba personally.

"I will make a decision on my responsibility at an appropriate time, but first I should focus on what people want me to do," Ishiba told reporters at his office, citing the need to deliver wage hikes outpacing rising living costs and to grapple with high US tariffs.

Despite calls for his resignation within the party, approval ratings for Ishiba's Cabinet have rebounded in recent media polls, prompting him to adopt a tougher stance against his critics, some pundits say.

Earlier in the day, LDP Secretary General Hiroshi Moriyama, who led the review panel, said at a press conference that he had informed Ishiba of his intention to step down as the party's No. 2 to take responsibility for the poor election results.

Moriyama said the prime minister will make the final decision on his resignation as the "appointer" of the post. Three other LDP executives, including policy chief Itsunori Onodera, also offered their resignations to Ishiba.

Ishiba said Moriyama, a veteran lawmaker known for his negotiation skills with opposition parties, is "irreplaceable," indicating he will try to persuade his close aide to remain in the post. Moriyama's term ends in September.

Moriyama's remarks came after the LDP held a three-hour joint plenary meeting of lawmakers from both houses of parliament.

In a 12-page review report released more than a month after the election, the LDP, which has held power almost continuously since 1955, expressed deep remorse and emphasised the necessity to "restart from scratch."

During the joint plenary meeting, Ishiba, once considered a reform-minded outsider within the ruling party, apologised for the dismal outcome, saying, "It is my responsibility as LDP president and I cannot evade that."

He added he has "no intention at all of clinging to my post," as the election review report pointed to a political funds scandal as the main cause of the party's setback.

Ishiba, who became prime minister in his fifth bid for the LDP presidency, said the public had hoped he would change the party, but he has been unable to impose his will on its policies.

The report also cited an LDP lawmaker's gaffe before the election over a massive earthquake in central Japan last year, along with an unpopular plan to give residents cash handouts to ease the impact of persistent inflation.

After releasing the review, the LDP's presidential election committee began procedures to conduct an internal survey next Monday of its lawmakers and local executives from Japan's 47 prefectures on whether to move forward with the leadership race.

Some LDP lawmakers have called for an early leadership election before the scheduled 2027 race, when Ishiba's current three-year term will end.

LDP rules stipulate that any bid to hold a presidential election mid-term must be backed by a majority of the party's lawmakers and local chapter executives.

The LDP has faced intense scrutiny in recent years over revelations that some of its factions, including one formerly led by the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, failed to report portions of income from fundraising events and created slush funds.

The LDP turned in a lacklustre performance in the last two national elections under Ishiba, who took office in October last year, leading its coalition to lose its majority in both the more powerful House of Representatives and the upper chamber.

Many lawmakers pressuring Ishiba to step down are those who had close ties with Abe, known for his hawkish views and his influence over the party both during and after his premiership. He was assassinated in 2022 during an election campaign speech.

-- BERNAMA