Key Facts
• July 26, 2025: Toshimitsu Motegi demands Shigeru Ishiba’s resignation on YouTube.
• Motegi criticizes LDP’s losses in three elections: 2021 Lower House, June 2025 Tokyo Assembly, and July 2025 Upper House.
• Motegi describes the situation as ‘three-out change,’ urging leadership and policy overhaul.
• Online reactions on X (formerly Twitter) are divided, with both support and criticism.
• Supporters call Motegi’s statement ‘completely valid’ and ‘necessary for party revival.’
• Critics argue Motegi shares responsibility for LDP’s defeats and liken the situation to a ‘game over.’
Summary
On July 26, 2025, former Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi called for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s resignation, citing the party’s significant losses in three recent elections. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Motegi emphasized the need for leadership and policy changes, describing the party’s state as a ‘three-out change.’ His remarks sparked widespread debate on X (formerly Twitter), with supporters praising his stance as ‘completely valid’ and critics pointing out his own role in the party’s failures. Some likened the situation to a ‘game over,’ suggesting the LDP’s challenges extend beyond leadership. The controversy highlights internal divisions within the party as it seeks to recover from electoral setbacks.
