Japan's PM Shigeru Ishiba To Resign Following Upper House Election Defeat: Report

Tokyo, Japan: Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is planning to step down from his position, state public broadcaster NHK reports. The Prime Minister’s decision to resign follows a major loss he suffered after the recent upper house election.

Shigeru Ishiba chose to resign to prevent further division within the party, the local media reported. Another local media, Asahi Shimbun reported that Ishiba considers to step down due to mounting pressure and call for his resignation taking responsibility for the poll loss. The development left him with no choice.

Read Also: ‘Safe Only Because Of Modi’: Indian Woman’s ‘Japan Not Safe’ Remark Sparks Trolls

The party is planning to hold a fresh leadership election to pick the incumbent PM’s successor. Ishiba’s resignation move comes ay before the party is set to decide whether to hold an early leadership election.

However, Ishiba has expressed his readiness to step down after the recent poll. The LDP and its coalition partner Komeito lost their majority in a Lower House election in July parliamentary election, failing to secure a majority in the 248-seat upper house in a crucial poll.

Read Also: Japan PM Eat Fukushima Fish To Declare It’s Safe After The Nuclear Wastewater Discharge

Ishiba, who assumed office in October last year had earlier vowed that he would remain in office as the country’s Prime Minister.