Key Facts
• July 26-27 poll shows Ishiba’s approval rating rises 5 points to 29%.
• Liberal groups fear rightward shift under Sanae Takaichi, rallying against Ishiba’s resignation.
• Over 1,000 people gathered outside the Prime Minister’s Office on July 25 in support of Ishiba.
• Ishiba leads as the most suitable next prime minister, surpassing Takaichi and Shinjiro Koizumi.
• Internal Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) factions push for Ishiba’s resignation after Senate election losses.
• LDP Youth Bureau submits resignation request; local organizations align with the motion.
• Ishiba vows to continue until August 15, aiming to release the ‘Ishiba Statement’ on the war’s 80th anniversary.
• Former PM Fumio Kishida’s surprise resignation announcement last year adds intrigue to this year’s developments.
• Gunma Governor Ichita Yamamoto criticizes the LDP’s internal conflict, calling it a ‘family feud.’
Summary
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba faces mounting pressure to resign following the ruling coalition’s Senate election losses. Despite internal calls for his departure, Ishiba’s approval ratings have risen by 5 points to 29%, with public support bolstered by fears of a rightward shift under potential successor Sanae Takaichi. Over 1,000 demonstrators rallied outside the Prime Minister’s Office on July 25, urging Ishiba to stay. Ishiba remains resolute, aiming to release a commemorative ‘Ishiba Statement’ on August 15, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Critics within the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) have been accused of prioritizing internal power struggles over public interest, as noted by Gunma Governor Ichita Yamamoto. The situation echoes last year’s surprise resignation announcement by former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, leaving the political landscape uncertain as the anniversary approaches.
