Kishida of Japan announces he will not run in September, opening up potential for a new prime minister to take office

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has announced that he will not run in the upcoming party leadership vote in September, effectively setting the stage for a new prime minister to take over. Kishida’s decision comes as his support ratings have dropped due to his party’s corruption scandals, with support dipping below 20%. He hopes that stepping aside will show that his party is changing for the better. Kishida plans to support a new leader in the upcoming election. Earlier in the year, the LDP suffered losses in local elections, further diminishing Kishida’s influence. The corruption scandal, which involved unreported political funds raised through party events, has led to the indictment of ten people, including lawmakers and their aides. In response, Kishida has taken measures such as removing Cabinet ministers and tightening political funds control laws. However, despite these efforts, support for his government has continued to dwindle. The move to not seek re-election and allow for a fresh leader aims to revitalize the party and improve its standing ahead of the next general election.

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