Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida resigned on October 1, 2024, along with his Cabinet, paving the way for Shigeru Ishiba to succeed him. Kishida, who had been in office since 2021, stepped down following a series of corruption scandals that impacted his government’s popularity. His resignation is intended to allow the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to refresh its leadership ahead of a snap parliamentary election on October 27, which Ishiba announced to quickly seek public support for his administration.
Ishiba, a seasoned politician with experience as defense and agriculture minister, is seen as a centrist figure who could help the LDP regain credibility and fend off challenges from opposition parties. However, opposition leaders have criticized the short period between Ishiba’s appointment and the election, claiming it doesn’t provide enough time for a thorough review of his policies.