Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has announced that he will not run in the upcoming party leadership vote in September, signaling the end of his term as the country’s leader. Kishida’s decision comes in the wake of his party’s corruption scandals and a drop in support ratings below 20%. His departure opens the door for a new leader from the governing Liberal Democratic Party to take over as prime minister.
Kishida’s tenure has been marked by efforts to clean up the party’s image following the corruption scandal, including removing Cabinet ministers and tightening political funds control laws. However, his support has continued to decline amidst local election losses and calls for a fresh face to lead the party into the next general election.
The corruption scandal revolved around unreported political funds raised through party events, implicating over 80 LDP lawmakers, mostly from a faction previously led by the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Ten individuals, including lawmakers and their aides, were indicted in January in connection to the scandal.
Kishida’s decision not to seek reelection reflects a desire to demonstrate that the LDP is changing for the better and to allow for a new leader to take the party forward. His departure sets the stage for a leadership transition in September and a shift in the direction of Japanese politics.
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