Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba today resigned after less than a year in office following election defeats that cost his ruling Liberal Democratic Party, LDP, its parliamentary majorities.
Ishiba said during a televised press conference that he decided to also resign from his position as President of the Liberal Democratic Party.
The decision comes ahead of an expected party vote that could have forced his removal. Under Ishiba, the LDP lost its lower house majority for the first time in 15 years and then its upper house majority in July this year.
Ishiba cited the recent U.S.-Japan trade deal easing tariffs as the right moment to step down. He will remain prime minister until a successor is chosen.
His tenure was marked by rising inflation, a cost-of-living crisis, strained U.S. ties and criticism over cabinet appointments and party gifts.
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